Jack London

1876 John Griffith Chaney is born “south of the slot” on January 12 in San Francisco, California. His mother, Flora Wellman, claims the father is astrologer William H. Chaney, who denies his paternity and abandons her. Baby John is given to a wet nurse, Daphna Virginia [“Jennie”] Prentiss. Jack London’s mother marries a widower, John London, on September 7. Baby John, then eight months old, acquires his stepfather’s surname, “London” and returns to the family household. 1877 …

…as “uraemia following renal colic” and “contributory [for three years]: Chronic Interstitial Nephritis” [more probably stroke and heart failure]. Published: The Acorn-Planter: A California Forest Play, The Little Lady of the Big House, and The Turtles of Tasman. Books published posthumously: 1917 The Human Drift, Jerry of the Islands, Michael, Brother of Jerry, The Red One, On the Makaloa Mat 1920 Hearts of Three 1922 Dutch Courage and Other Stories 1963 The Assassination Bureau (completed by Robert L. Fish)