Early Life and Family Background
John Griffith Chaney, later known as Jack London, was born on January 12, , in San Francisco, California. His mother, Flora Wellman, was a music teacher and a practitioner of spiritualism. Flora&#;s relationship with William Chaney, an astrologer and itinerant lawyer, ended acrimoniously before Jack was born, leaving Flora to raise Jack alone. Flora&#;s mental health suffered during this period, and she attempted suicide while pregnant with Jack. Shortly after his birth, Flora married John London, a part-time farmer and Civil War veteran, who provided Jack with a sense of stability.
Growing up in poverty, Jack experienced a transient and unstable childhood. The family moved frequently within the Bay Area, which meant that Jack often had to switch schools and struggle to adapt to new environments. Despite these challenges, Jack&#;s love for reading became a constant in his life, offering him an escape from his harsh realities.
Early Career and Self-Education
Due to financial constraints, Jack&#;s formal education was inconsistent. He attended Oakland High School sporadically and took on various jobs to support his family. At a young age,
Jack London - A Biography
John Griffith "Jack" London was born on January 12, to a single mother in San Francisco. His mother, Flora Wellman, hired a former slave, Virginia "Jennie" Prentiss, to be a wet nurse for the boy. Prentiss ended up staying with the family and helping to raise Jack London. Due to his closeness to a black family London was the victim of bullying and grew up having to fight other children. When London was 15 years old, Prentiss loaned him the money to buy his first sailboat. She ended up becoming a well known figure in the local black community, being involved in groups such as the Federated Negro Woman's Club.
Being raised in a working class environment, London was mostly self-taught, relying largely on books from local libraries. Librarian Ina Coolbrith, (who became California's first poet laureate,) took London under her wing and helped guide his learning. At the same time he began working various jobs; newspaper boy, oyster pirate, laborer, factory worker, sailor, cannery worker, etc.
saw a large depression hit the United State's economy and the country was swept with labor protests. London joined Coxey's Army
Biographies of Jack London and His Family
John "Jack" Griffith London
Why is there so much confusion about London's life? Find out why, along with an extensive bibliography of biographies.
Flora Wellman (Chaney) London
London's mother was from a well-to-do Ohio family, but moved West, where she became involved in women's rights, African-American rights, and more.
William Chaney
Chaney is considered the biological father of London. He deserted Flora when she became pregnant.
John London
Flora Wellman married John London after the birth of her son John. Until adulthood, he believed the man was his father.
Virginia Prentiss
This ex-slave was essentially a second mother to London, and he responded in turn.
Elizabeth "Bess" Maddern
Bess was London's first wife and mother of his two children. They were good friends before they married.
Joan London
Joan most resembled her father in becoming politically active on behalf of the working class.
Bess "Becky" London Fleming
Unlike her sister, Becky did not publicly associate herself with her father until late in life.
Charmian Kittredge London
London's second wife became a w
Historical Essay
by John Trinkl
Jack London, early s
Photo: courtesy Stephen Mexal
"To mark the birthplace of the noted author, Jack London, January 12, "
This plaque on the Wells Fargo building at 3rd Street and Brannan in San Francisco is one of the few reminders in San Francisco of one of America's great writers. London, a life-long socialist, would find it ironic that his birthplace is now a bank, but then his own life was full of contradictions.
Shortly after Jack was born, his family moved to Bernal Heights, then to a two-story house at Natoma Street, then to a flat on Folsom Street. With his family extremely poor and his father sickly and unable to make much money, the search for cheaper accommodations was constant. The family soon moved across the Bay to Oakland, where the young London grew up. Two things shaped London's youth—the constant struggle to help support his family and the world of books. He was a newsboy, street kid picking up pennies sweeping out saloons on Broadway between Sixth and Seventh in Oakland, working on an ice wagon, setting up pins in a bowling alley.
But he also discovered the Oakland Public Library and became a voracious rea
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