Horace Bixby

Biography

Horace Bixby (1826–1912) was a legendary steamboat pilot and captain who navigated the Mississippi River during the golden age of riverboat commerce. Among his most notable achievements was training Samuel Clemens, who would become the celebrated author Mark Twain, as a cub pilot—a relationship that profoundly influenced American literature.

Bixby's expertise and experience on the river made him one of the most respected pilots of his era. His mentorship of Twain connected him to one of America's greatest writers, and his life exemplified the skill and knowledge required to master the treacherous waters of the Mississippi during the nineteenth century.