A Powerpoint about Jack London

1. Jack London
Presented by: Morgan Rae Burke

2. The Early Years
John Griffith Chaney (Jack London) was born on 615 Third Street, San Francisco, California,
on January 12, 1876 to Flora Wellman. His father, William Chaney, was an astrologer who
left Flora when he found out about the pregnancy and later denied being Jacks father. Due
to his fathers absence and his mother illnesses, Jack spent most of his baby years in the
care of Virginia Prentiss, a wet-nurse and ex-slave. On September 7, 1879 Flora married a
Civil War Veteran named John London. The family of three then moved around the San
Francisco Bay area until settling down in Oakland California. John Griffith Chaney took on
the last name of London and changed his name to Jack. Giving us the Jack London we
know today.
http://www.jacklondons.net/life.html)

3. Birds eye view of where Jack was born. What google says 615 3rd street is.
Flora Wellman
Flora Wellman
and
John London

4. School Yard Days
Fun Fact:
Jack was five years old the first time
he got drunk. His Step-father was
ploughing in the field and asked
Jack to bring the pail of beer out to
him. Jack knew adults treated this
like precious gold, so of course he
was going to take a taste. He ended
up emerging his entire head in the
pail and went to town.
http://www.jacklondons.net/writings/JohnBarleycorn/chapter3.htm
University of California,
Berkeley
(1896–1897)
Oakland High School
(1896)
University:
2nd row,
2nd to the right,
with the bow tie.
Oakland Cole Grammar School
(1887)
Oakland High School
(1985)
Grade School:

5. through the years…
JACK LONDON

6. Notable Adventures
July 12, 1897 at age 21,
Jack partook in the
Klondike Gold Rush
(The adventures that inspired many writings of Jack London)
January 20,1893 at
age 17 Jack signed
up as a seaman on
the Sophia Sutherland

7. Family Life
In April of 1900 Jack
married Elizabeth (Bess)
Maddern. But not in the
name of love, but in the
name of science.
In the summer of 1903
Jack left his wife and kids
and fell in love with an old
friend, Charmian
Kittredge. They later got
married 11/19/05
Jack and Bess had two
little girls, Joan
(01/15/1901) and Bessie
90/20/02)
http://www.jacklondons.net/life.html

8. Jack and his two Daughters

9. Jack and Naturalism
Jack London is known as a naturalist. A
naturalist, according to the webster dictionary
is “an expert in or student of natural history.”
The titles of his works alone show proof in this
statement. Jake spent many hours living in wild
environments. His writings portray naturalism
through the environment in his stories as well
as the way his characters are shaped.
London’s characters are very instinctive and
adventurous. His books, much like his life,
expresses this sense of natural adventure.
“You can not wait for inspiration. You must go after it with a
club. -Jack London

10. Writings
London’s most popular
book Call of the Wild was
published in 1903. It is
based on his experience in
the Klondike Gold Rush.
London's first published
writing was Typhoon of the
Coast of Japan. He wrote it
after serving eight months
as a seaman on the Sophia
Sutherland. (1893)

11. London's first published book
Based on his time at sea
The only London book I own
1904
1902
1906

12. January 12 1876-November 22
1916
Jack Died November 22, 1916. His
sudden death led to some debate on how he
passed. Many say he died due to a drug overdose
some say kidney failure (due to his alcohol
problem.) His daughter Becky London states that
the biographies written about her father committing
suicide are wrong. She says her father became ill
early November but refused to accept it and
carried on with his life as usual. She did said that it
is possible that he could of taken too many of his
pills or mixed his pills on accident. The proof that
has led her to believe her father did not commit
suicide was a letter written by him to his daughters
about wanting to take a trip to Oakland the
following Sunday. Becky said that her father would
never write that note and then intentionally kill
himself.
On London’s death certificate it states the
cause of death was Uremic Poisoning.
Photo of Jack shortly before he died.
(http://www.jacklondons.net/nosuicide.html)

13. The End