Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894) is best known today for his adventure stories such as Kidnapped and Treasure Island. This son of an engineering family, though frail of health wrote many works including poetry and plays. In many ways his life was more exciting than his fiction.

In 1876 he met Mrs. Fanny Osbourne, 11 years his senior, in Paris. In 1879, against his family's wishes, he followed her to San Francisco. Lacking funds he traveled in steerage across the ocean and by emigrant train across the USA. Always frail of health, Stevenson reached San Francisco in poor condition. Nursed back to health, he married her.