H. L. Mencken
Born 1880 · Age 145
American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of American English; longtime writer for The Baltimore Sun, co-founder of The American Mercury, author of The American Language, and a leading literary critic of the early 20th century.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against H. L. Mencken and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Baltimore, Maryland
Henry Louis Mencken was born in Baltimore to Anna Margaret (Abhau) and August Mencken Sr., a cigar factory owner.
Family moved to Hollins Street home facing Union Square
At about age three the Mencken family moved into 1524 Hollins Street in the Union Square neighborhood, the house Mencken would keep most of his life.
Given a small printing press (childhood gift)
Received a self-inker printing press from his father (reported in some biographies as around Christmas 1888) that helped spur his interest in journalism.
Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
At nine he read Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, which he later described as 'the most stupendous event in my life' and an inspiration to become a writer.
Worked in father's cigar factory
Worked for three years in his father's cigar factory after high school; disliked sales work and resolved to leave.
Graduated valedictorian from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
Graduated from the male-only, math/technical-focused Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and delivered the valedictory address.
Took a writing class at Cosmopolitan University (correspondence)
Enrolled in a free correspondence writing class offered by Cosmopolitan magazine's Cosmopolitan University — his only formal post-secondary education.
Father's death; freed to leave cigar business
Death of his father, August Mencken Sr., which freed Mencken to pursue journalism
Hired part-time at the Baltimore Morning Herald
Applied to and was hired part-time by the Morning Herald (later Baltimore Morning Herald); initially retained his factory job a few months longer.
Hired full-time as reporter at Baltimore Morning Herald
Became a full-time reporter for the Morning Herald in June 1899, starting his journalism career.
Became city editor of the Baltimore Morning Herald
By 1903 Mencken had risen to city editor of the Morning Herald (per biographical summaries).
Covered Great Baltimore Fire
Reported on the Great Baltimore Fire (1904); famed headline writing and reporting from this period helped his reputation.
Published George Bernard Shaw book
Published his early book George Bernard Shaw: His Plays (bibliographical date given in some sources as 1905).
Moved to The Baltimore Sun after Herald purchase
After the Morning Herald's staff and assets were divided following a 1906 purchase, Mencken moved to The Baltimore Sun, where he would work for decades.
Became literary critic/writer for The Smart Set
Started writing as a literary critic for The Smart Set magazine; later became coeditor with George Jean Nathan.
Published analysis of Nietzsche (The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche)
Produced an early English scholarly analysis/interpretation of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy (often dated around 1908).
Ghostwrote medical/baby-care material for Leonard K. Hirshberg
Worked as a ghostwriter for physician Leonard K. Hirshberg; in 1910 wrote a series of articles and most of a book about infant care.
Began 'Free Lance' column for the Evening Sun
Around 1911 he began writing the Free Lance column for the Evening Sun (later a regular Monday column) that raised his national profile.
Co-edited The Smart Set with George Jean Nathan (period begins)
Mencken and George Jean Nathan served as co-editors of The Smart Set, shaping modern literary criticism (co-editorship widely noted in period 1914–1923).
Published essay 'Puritanism as a Literary Force' in A Book of Prefaces
Wrote one of his most outspoken essays, criticizing Puritanism's effect on American literature (in A Book of Prefaces, 1917).
Opposed U.S. entry into World War I (public stance)
Expressed opposition to American involvement in World War I — a public political stance that affected his reputation.
Published The American Language (first edition)
Released The American Language, a multi-volume, influential study of American English usage — his major philological work.
Published Prejudices series (beginning)
Began publishing the Prejudices volumes (1919–1927), collections of literary and political essays that established his voice.
Mentored and championed new writers (Sinclair Lewis, Dreiser, Fitzgerald, etc.)
Mencken used his editorial influence to promote authors such as Sinclair Lewis, Theodore Dreiser, F. Scott Fitzgerald and others.
Acted as influential literary critic and pundit
During the 1920s Mencken was arguably the most influential American literary critic, shaping tastes and national conversations.
Coined or popularized terms (e.g., 'booboisie', credited with 'Bible Belt')
Invented or popularized colorful terms (e.g., 'booboisie') and is often credited with coining/popularizing 'Bible Belt' to describe the religious South (dating to his 1920s writings).
Became a nationally syndicated columnist and literary tastemaker
Across the 1920s Mencken became arguably the most influential American literary critic, mentor to younger writers, and a major syndicated columnist.
Co-founded The American Mercury magazine
With George Jean Nathan Mencken founded and edited The American Mercury, published by Alfred A. Knopf; it quickly gained national influence.
Covered the Scopes 'Monkey' Trial in Dayton, Tennessee
Attended and wrote satirical, widely syndicated coverage of the Scopes Trial, dubbing it the 'Monkey Trial' and gaining national attention.
American Mercury achieves national circulation
Within a few years of its 1924 founding, The American Mercury developed national circulation and influence, particularly on college campuses.
Deliberately arrested selling banned American Mercury in Boston
Intentionally had himself arrested in Boston for selling an issue of The American Mercury that had been banned under Comstock laws.
Investigated and defended Aimee Semple McPherson coverage
Followed the Los Angeles grand jury inquiry into evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, unexpectedly defending her against various local attacks and wrote scathing pieces on Hollywood culture.
Married Sara Haardt
Married Sara Haardt, an English professor and author eighteen years his junior; their seven-year courtship had begun in 1923.
Arkansas legislature motion to pray for Mencken's soul
After Mencken called Arkansas the 'apex of moronia', the state legislature passed a motion to pray for his soul—an indicator of his national notoriety.
Resigned as editor of The American Mercury
Mencken resigned as editor of The American Mercury in 1933 after the magazine's decline in influence and circulation during the Depression era.
Death of his wife Sara Haardt
Sara Haardt Mencken died in 1935 (of meningitis) after years of poor health; Mencken was grief-stricken and later published a collection of her short stories.
Testified before Congress in support of anti-lynching Costigan–Wagner Bill
Spurred by lynchings in his home state, Mencken testified before Congress in support of the Costigan–Wagner anti-lynching legislation and advised civil-rights activists.
Experienced decline in popularity during the Great Depression
During the 1930s Mencken's satirical style and opposition to the New Deal reduced his national popularity, and circulation of his magazine declined.
Published Happy Days (memoir vol. 1)
Published Happy Days, the first volume of his autobiographical trilogy (memoirs of his childhood).
Literary comeback with memoir essays in The New Yorker
Published nostalgic essays in The New Yorker that became the basis for his memoirs; these pieces revived public interest in Mencken after the Depression.
Opposed U.S. entry into World War II (public stance)
Mencken opposed American entry into World War II, a stance consistent with his earlier anti-interventionism; he also temporarily ceased regular paper columns during the WWII era.
Published Newspaper Days (memoir vol. 2)
Published Newspaper Days, second volume of his autobiographical trilogy recounting his early journalism career.
Published Heathen Days (memoir vol. 3)
Published Heathen Days, concluding volume of his memoir trilogy, including his account of the Scopes trial.
Published first major supplement to The American Language
Released a substantial supplement to The American Language, extending his philological work (noted supplements in 1945 and later 1948).
Published supplement to The American Language (1948)
Published another substantial supplement to The American Language in 1948, updating his research on American English.
Ceased full-time writing for The Baltimore Sun
After the stroke and during WWII years, Mencken had stopped regular writing for the Sun and thereafter served as an adviser to the paper.
Last regular newspaper editorial published ('Mencken's Last Stand')
One of his last newspaper editorials, often cited as 'Mencken's Last Stand', appeared in November 1948 before his stroke later that month.
Suffered major stroke
On November 23, 1948, Mencken suffered a stroke that left him largely unable to read or write and curtailed his journalistic career.
Home later turned into H. L. Mencken House museum (posthumous conversion)
Mencken's longtime Hollins Street home in Union Square was eventually preserved and turned into the H. L. Mencken House museum (conversion date after his death; museum exists as a city museum).
Papers distributed to libraries; Mencken Room established
After his death Mencken's papers were distributed among city and university collections; the largest archive is the Mencken Room at Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library.
Death in Baltimore
Died in his sleep on January 29, 1956; interred at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore. His papers were later distributed to libraries.
Posthumous publication: The Diary of H. L. Mencken
Per Mencken's instructions, Alfred A. Knopf published Mencken's 'secret diary' as The Diary of H. L. Mencken in 1989, revealing controversial private views.
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what H. L. Mencken and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Eleanor Roosevelt
Born 1884 · Age 141
American political figure, diplomat, activist; longest-serving U.S. First Lady (1933–1945); chair of UN Commission on Human Rights and key drafter/champion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Napoleon Hill
Born 1883 · Age 142
American self-help author best known for Think and Grow Rich (1937). Prolific publisher and lecturer whose career included successful books, many short-lived businesses, repeated fraud allegations, high-profile associations (often disputed), and creation of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.
Franz Kafka
Born 1883 · Age 142
German-language Jewish Czech writer and novelist (1883–1924). Trained as a lawyer, worked in insurance while writing seminal modernist works including The Metamorphosis, The Trial, and The Castle. Died of tuberculosis aged 40. Much of his fame came posthumously.
Coco Chanel
Born 1883 · Age 142
French fashion designer and businesswoman; founder of the House of Chanel. Revolutionized women's fashion (sporty chic, little black dress, Chanel suit), created Chanel No.5 and the interlocked-CC logo; controversial wartime activities and later a 1954 comeback.
Alexander Fleming
Born 1881 · Age 144
Scottish physician and microbiologist; discovered lysozyme (1921) and penicillin (1928); shared 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Howard Florey and Ernst Chain.
Jack Irving
Born 1880 · Age 145
British automobile and aeronautical engineer (MIAE) best known for designing the Irving‑Napier land speed record car Golden Arrow. Served at Daimler, the Royal Aircraft Establishment (Balloon Factory), Sunbeam, Humfrey‑Sandberg, Humber/Hillman and Bendix. Institution of Automobile Engineers council member and president (1936–37).