#JackFacts:

 

#1. Did you know that Jack London was a pirate?

When Jack London's father was injured in a train accident, Jack had to step up to the plate at a young age to earn money for his family.  Jack borrowed $300 from Jennie Prentiss, his childhood wet nurse, to buy a boat, which he named the Razzle Dazzle, and on which he, along with other pirates, raided the oyster beds owned by the railroads. 

 

#2. Did you know Jack London dropped out of school after the 8th grade?

He took a job at Hickmott’s Cannery, where he worked 12-16 hours a day for 10 cents per hour, to help support his family.

 

#3 Did you know Jack London’s real name was John?

He was born John Chaney. His stepfather’s name was London.

 

#4 Did you know that "Buck," the dog in Jack London's book, "The Call of the Wild," was based on an actual dog, named "Jack"?

The dog belonged to Marshall and Louis Bond, whom Jack London met in the Yukon.

 

#5 Did you know that despite dropping out of school after the 8th grade, Jack London went to college for one semester?

After the 8th grade, Jack London worked as a laborer, a pirate, a fish patrolman, a hobo, and a sailor. He returned to school, where he worked as a janitor, but quickly dropped out. He studied on his own for six months, and took the University of Berkeley entrances exams, passed! He went to Berkeley for one semester, but dropped out due to lack of funds, and went to the Klondike in search of gold.

 

#6 Did you know Jack London was only 17 years old when he wrote his first award-winning story?

Following his return from a sealing expedition off the coast of Japan, he wrote a story for a contest sponsored by the "Morning Call." His story “Typhoon off the Coast of Japan” won the $25 prize.

 

#7 Did you know that Jack London lost his two front teeth as a result of scurvy?

When he was in the Klondike searching for gold his food ran out and he contracted scurvy. 

 

#8 Did you know Jack London had to build his own boat to return home from the Klondike?
After contracting scurvy Jack could hardly walk. He and two friends built a boat in order to sale 1400 miles down the Yukon River to St. Michael. There a priest provided him with tomatoes, which Jack said were worth more to him than an “Eldorado Claim.”

 

#9 Did you know Jack London was a photographer and photojournalist?
Jack’s photos appeared in his book “The People of the Abyss.” He also covered the Russo-Japanese War for the Hearst papers.

 

#10 Did you know Jack London loved playing practical jokes on his house guests?

Jack would often attach ropes to his overnight guests’ bedposts.  In the middle of the night he and his friends would pull the ropes and make spooky noises.

 

#11 Did you know Jack London loved to host “peanut races?”

Jack would have his entourage of famous writers, poets, sculptors, and artists push peanuts across his floor with their noses.

 

#12 Did you know that Jack London ran for mayor of Oakland, CA.

Jack ran for mayor several times on the Socialist Party ticket.

 

#13 Did you know Jack London was asked to run for President of the United States?

Jack was asked to run for President of the United States by the Prohibition Party after the success of his book “John Barleycorn,” which recounts his battles with alcohol.

 

#14 Did you know that Jack London once received a death sentence?
Jack struck a Japanese soldier while covering the Russo-Japanese war and was placed under arrest.  President Theodore Roosevelt intervened to prevent him from being executed.

 

#15 Did you know Jack London was an environmentalist?

He learned about terracing while in Korea covering the Russian Japanese War and introduced the concept on his ranch in Northern California. He bought used up ranch land and let it lie fallow and worked to regenerate the soil by rotating crops.

 

#16. Did you know that Jack London was a good friend with Luthur Burbank the greatest horticulturist of his day?Luthur Burbank lived 20 miles from Jack London. He advised Jack about his ranch and grape production.

 

#17. Did you know Jack’s nickname was “Wolf”?
Jack’s best friend poet George Sterling nicknamed Jack “Wolf.” Jack called George “The Greek”.
 
#18. Did you know that President Theodore Roosevelt accused Jack of being a nature faker?
They fought it out on the front pages.  Roosevelt claimed that one of Jack’s stories falsely described a lynx tearing apart a wolf-dog, which is analogous to a housecat tearing apart a 30lb bulldog.  As it turns out Roosevelt miss read Jack’s story, which actually described a wolf-dog tearing apart a lynx.

 

#19. Did you know that Jack London had an FBI file?

Jack was a Socialist and a strong supporter of the unions.  As a result the FBI kept a close eye on him.

 

#20. Did you know Jack London influenced many other writers?

Hemingway, Kerouac, Eugene ONeill, Ron E. Howard and many other writers were greatly influenced by the work of Jack London.

 

#21. Did you know that Jack London had 50 books published during his lifetime? 

He also wrote 15 plays and numerous essays and news articles.

 

#22. Did you know Jack London wrote 1,000 words every day?  

1000 words was Jack London’s self-imposed daily quota.  If he came up short one day he made it up the next.  However, if he wrote more than a 1000 he didn't count it towards the next day's work.

 

 

 

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