Robert Louis Stevenson

13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist and travel writer, author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Plagued by ill health throughout his life, he travelled widely and spent his final years in Samoa, where he died at age 44.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Robert Louis Stevenson.

Life events

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland
13 November 1850

Robert Louis Stevenson was born at 8 Howard Place, Edinburgh, the only child of lighthouse engineer Thomas Stevenson and Margaret Balfour.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Entered the University of Edinburgh
November 1867 – 1875

Stevenson enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1867 to study engineering, later switching to law, though he never practised as an advocate.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Called to the Scottish bar
July 1875

Stevenson passed his examinations and was admitted to the Scottish bar in July 1875, but chose to pursue writing instead of law.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Travelled to California and married Fanny Osbourne
19 May 1880

Stevenson crossed the Atlantic and the American continent in 1879 to join Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne, whom he married in San Francisco on 19 May 1880.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published Treasure Island
November 1883

Treasure Island, Stevenson's classic pirate adventure novel, was published in book form in November 1883 after serialization in Young Folks magazine.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Kidnapped
1886

In 1886 Stevenson published both the gothic novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and the historical adventure Kidnapped, cementing his fame.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Set sail across the Pacific on the yacht Casco
28 June 1888

In June 1888 Stevenson chartered the yacht Casco from San Francisco and began several years of voyaging among the islands of the Pacific.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Settled at Vailima in Samoa
1890

Stevenson purchased land at Vailima on the Samoan island of Upolu in 1890, building an estate where he lived with his family and was known to Samoans as 'Tusitala' (teller of tales).

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Died at Vailima, Samoa
3 December 1894

Stevenson died suddenly of a probable cerebral haemorrhage at his home in Samoa at age 44 and was buried on nearby Mount Vaea.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓