Jack London, born John Griffith Chaney on January 12, 1876, in San Francisco, California, was an American novelist, journalist, and activist. He is considered a pioneer of commercial fiction and a key figure in the rise of American magazines. London became one of the first American authors to achieve international fame and wealth through his writing. His works, which often explored themes of survival, individualism, and nature, were heavily influenced by thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Charles Darwin, and Karl Marx. London married twice; his first wife was Elizabeth Maddern, whom he married in 1900 and divorced in 1904, and his second wife was Charmian London, whom he married in 1905 and remained with until his death. He had two daughters, Joan and Becky London. Jack London's adventurous spirit was reflected in his personal life, as well as in his writing, where he drew from his own experiences, including his time in the Klondike and his travels around the world. He passed away at the age of 40 on November 22, 1916, in Glen Ellen, California.