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He was born on the Greek island of Lefkada, but moved to Ireland at the age of six, where he was raised by his great-aunt following his parents' divorce. He lost an eye in a fight or an accident at the age of 16, and lost his father shortly afterwards, being pulled out of school around that same time when his great-aunt came upon financial difficulties. At the age of 19, he then moved to the United States, beginning to work as a journalist and literary translator at the age of 24. He was hired by Harper's Magazine shortly afterwards. While attending the [[New Orleans World's Fair]] in [[1884]], he met [[Takamine Jokichi|Takamine Jôkichi]], who was there as a member of the Japanese pavilion.

He was born on the Greek island of Lefkada, but moved to Ireland at the age of six, where he was raised by his great-aunt following his parents' divorce. He lost an eye in a fight or an accident at the age of 16, and lost his father shortly afterwards, being pulled out of school around that same time when his great-aunt came upon financial difficulties. At the age of 19, he then moved to the United States, beginning to work as a journalist and literary translator at the age of 24. He was hired by Harper's Magazine shortly afterwards. While attending the [[New Orleans World's Fair]] in [[1884]], he met [[Takamine Jokichi|Takamine Jôkichi]], who was there as a member of the Japanese pavilion.

In [[1890]], when Hearn was 40 years old, he journeyed to Japan on an assignment from Harper's. He lectured for a time at [[Tokyo University|Tokyo Imperial University]] before obtaining a position as an English teacher in [[Matsue]] ([[Shimane prefecture]]) thanks to an introduction from the [[Ministry of Education]]. While in Matsue, he met and later married Koizumi Setsu, the daughter of a local high-ranking (former) samurai family.

In [[1890]], when Hearn was 40 years old, he journeyed to Japan on an assignment from Harper's. He lectured for a time at [[Tokyo University|Tokyo Imperial University]] before obtaining a position as an English teacher in [[Matsue]] ([[Shimane prefecture]]) thanks to an introduction from the [[Ministry of Education]]. While in Matsue, he met and later married Koizumi Setsu, the daughter of a local high-ranking (former) samurai family. Hearn and his wife later had three children. Her written account of her relationship with Hearn is the earliest surviving written record by a Japanese woman of her relationship with a Western man.<ref>Gary Leupp, ''Interracial Intimacy in Japan: Western Men and Japanese Women, 1543-1900'', A&C Black (2003), 8.</ref>

After only 15 months in Matsue, he moved to [[Kumamoto]] where he worked as a teacher, and then to [[Kobe]], where he found employment with the Kobe Chronicle. He returned to Tokyo Imperial University in [[1896]], and though he accepted an offer to begin teaching at [[Waseda University]] in [[1904]], he passed away later that year, at the age of 54.

After only 15 months in Matsue, he moved to [[Kumamoto]] where he worked as a teacher, and then to [[Kobe]], where he found employment with the Kobe Chronicle. He returned to Tokyo Imperial University in [[1896]], and though he accepted an offer to begin teaching at [[Waseda University]] in [[1904]], he passed away later that year, at the age of 54.