Robert Louis Stevenson was born November 13, 1850, in Edinburgh. He was
an only child. On his mother's side he came from a line of Scotch
philosophers and ministers; on his father's, from a line of active
workers and scientists. His grandfather, Robert Stevenson, and his
father, Thomas Stevenson, gained world-wide reputations in engineering.
Robert inherited from his mother throat and lung troubles. His health
was very poor from his birth and his life was preserved only by the
careful watchfulness of his mother and his devoted nurse, Alison
Cunningham. As a child he was very lovable and possessed a very active
imagination.
He went to school in Edinburgh between the years 1858-1867. He first
attended a preparatory school, then the Edinburgh academy. He spent
considerable time at his maternal grandfather's home. It was there that
he first tasted the delights of romance. In his school work he was none
too studious, but all his teachers were charmed by his pleasing manner
and general intelligence. Though an idler in other things, he worked
constantly on the art of writing. Throughout his study in Edinburgh
University and his unsuccessful efforts in engineering and the practice
of law, literature became more and more a passion with him.
The period between 1875 and 1879 was one of improved health and
considerable literary activity. During this time he published _A
Lodging for the Night, Will o' the Mill, The New Arabian Nights_, and
an _Inland Voyage_.
While in southern Europe he met and fell in love with Mrs. Osbourne. So
after she returned to her home in California, Stevenson received the
news that she was seriously ill. He immediately sailed for San
Francisco, travelling as a steerage passenger because of lack of funds
and a desire for literary material. Out of this experience grew a
number of stories and essays. Exposure on the voyage affected his
health and caused a very dangerous illness. After his recovery he
married Mrs. Osbourne and returned to England with his wife and
stepson.
For a few years his work was more or less spasmodic on account of his
bitter struggle with poor health, in 1883 he achieved success by the
publication of _Treasure Island_. _Markheim_ appeared in 1884.
_Kidnapped_ and _Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde_ were published in 1886.
After the death of his father in 1887, Stevenson and his family sailed
to America, where they settled in the Adirondacks for the winter of
1888. Here his health was good and he wrote a number of essays for
_Scribner's Magazine_. In the spring of the same year they started on a
cruise of the south seas. They visited many of the southern islands and
settled at Vailima, Samoa. Stevenson was interested in the Samoaas and
took an active part in their political affairs. The tropical climate
agreed with him and his creative power was renewed. He wrote a number
of short stories, a series of letters on the South Seas, and the novel
_David Balfour_.
Political reverses and failing strength took away for a time his power
to write. He was again stimulated, however, by the love and
appreciation of his Samoan followers, and started on what promised to
be his period of highest achievement. This promise was soon blighted by
his untimely death from a stroke of apoplexy, December 13, 1894. He was
buried in Samoa.