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Do you know the answer to this without googling?

125 replies

TibetanTerrah · 14/02/2022 11:14

Because I was absolutely convinced the answer was completely different Confused

What is Robert Louis Stevenson famous for?

OP posts:
MayMorris · 14/02/2022 12:13

@SportsMother

Is this a writing/‘Rocket’ mix up?
Trouble is the rocket man also had a famous engineering son called Robert 🤣
godmum56 · 14/02/2022 12:14

can you hear my eyes rolling? Grin

MayMorris · 14/02/2022 12:14

@Jacketpotato84

She invented the telephone right?
🤣🤣👏
MayMorris · 14/02/2022 12:15

@BestKnitterInScotland

Robert Louis STEVENSON - Scottish writer, Dr Jekyll etc.

STEPHENSON - the Rocket train guy.

Names spelled differently.

Ahhhh I’m dyslexic- never realised that 🤦‍♀️
AffIt · 14/02/2022 12:15

@Milkmilkmilk42

There was also Robert Stevenson who was a famous railway engineer.

But Robert Louis Stevenson was an author.

Robert Louis Stevenson was the grandson of Robert Stevenson, a civil engineer who designed numerous lighthouses including the Bell Rock lighthouse, off the coast of Angus.
Rhannion · 14/02/2022 12:17

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde was based on a man called Deacon Brodie who was a respectable town councilor & furniture maker by day & a thief by night. He is referred to by Maggie Smith in the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

EBearhug · 14/02/2022 12:17

RLS is an author- I grew up with A Child's Garden of Verses, Treasure Island and so on, and I also know of dome of the more obscure ones, like Weir of Hermiston. He died quite young. Was he a TB victim? His portrait in the NPG doesn't look ful of health.

But he's also from the engineering family of Stevensons who built many of Scotland lighthouses, so engineering confusion is almost excusable. Wink Bella Bathurst's book The Lighthouse Stevensons is worth a read.

TibetanTerrah · 14/02/2022 12:18

@AffIt so they ARE related?! When I found out I'd got them mixed up I ended up down a convoluted rabbit hole full of Roberts and Georges and Steph(v)ensons that made my head hurt so I abandoned it and just accepted my ignorance Grin

OP posts:
AuldAlliance · 14/02/2022 12:25

I think the jury is out on whether he had TB, but he definitely had pulmonary problems from a young age.

He died of a brain haemorrhage, I think.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 14/02/2022 12:25

Robert Louis Stevenson - writer and grandson of Robert Stevenson lighthouse engineer.

---

George and Robert Stephenson - Railway engineer father and son

Graphista · 14/02/2022 12:26

Novelist and poet - but I'm Scots and he's a Scotsman so may not be as well known elsewhere in uk (although he should be fab writer)

I love "Jekyll and Hyde" but I think my favourite is actually "the wrong box"

Isn't it funny how the wrong information gets so cemented in our minds

Yes but in my case it tends to be more geographical stuff! My sense of direction is horrific!

@MolkosTeenageAngst whereabouts are you? Are you even British? Also wondering if you're quite young.

Stuff like this is super handy for crosswords and quizzes though

Op like you when I learn a bit of trivia I disappear down rabbit holes of finding out more stuff. Don't always remember what I've learned.

I'm currently on a "name origin" kick relating to gaelic and anglicised words.

It's taking me down a bit of an Irish/Scots history warren love it!

Few years back when I was enjoying the white queen etc when they were on tv (and yes I know the historical accuracy is practically non existent but it's fun!) and that led to me learning the history of the scots monarchy prior to Mary queen of scots

Because although I am a Scot I was mostly educated in England and Wales high school was all England so I was taught the English monarchy but not really scots much

EBearhug · 14/02/2022 12:32

I'm Scots and he's a Scotsman so may not be as well known elsewhere in uk

I think many people know of Treasure Island and Jekyll & Hyde without knowing the author.

AdaColeman · 14/02/2022 12:33

My favourite RLS book is his wonderful Travels with a Donkey about his journey through the Cévennes region, with Modestine his stubborn truculent donkey.
There is a long distance footpath based on his route, which I would love to do one day.

He died in Samoa, aged only 44.

belimoo · 14/02/2022 12:34

I would have guessed he was an actor. And I studied Jekyll and Hyde at school Blush

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 14/02/2022 12:36

@DistrictCommissioner

For a while (no idea why) I thought Beatrix Potter and Beatrice Webb (one of the founders of LSE and the Fabian Society) were the same person.
I suspect you thought that because Beatrice Webb's maiden name was Potter.
Jennyfromthere · 14/02/2022 12:37

Yes writing books.

Graphista · 14/02/2022 12:43

@EBearhug yea I think that happens with certain books/authors

TressiliansStone · 14/02/2022 12:48

Yes!

His mother was a Balfour, daughter of Rev Lewis Balfour, minister of Colinton (just outside Edinburgh in those days).

That's why RLS called his hero of Kidnapped, David Balfour. Also, Lewis is a family name for the Balfours and RLS was christened Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson. He changed his name when he was about 18.

A Child's Garden of Verses draws on the long periods RLS stayed at Colinton Manse.

One of RLS's Balfour uncles also became a lighthouse engineer, working in New Zealand.

I know far too much about them.Grin

RishiRich · 14/02/2022 12:50

Only read the OP: writing Treasure Island.

After Googling: writing Treasure Island and Jekyll & Hyde

NoSquirrels · 14/02/2022 12:52

Treasure Island

TheOrigRights · 14/02/2022 12:56

I got him muddled with Isambard Kingdom Brunel Grin

TheOrigRights · 14/02/2022 12:58

@RainbowZebraWarrior

Robert Louis Stevenson - writer and grandson of Robert Stevenson lighthouse engineer.

---

George and Robert Stephenson - Railway engineer father and son

Oh, now I don't feel quite so dim. I obviously have some vague Stevenson knowledge.
RonCarlos · 14/02/2022 13:06

I thought, he's the Train Guy.

Then thought, or no is that Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Then remembered he was the Bridge/Railway guy. (?)

EBearhug · 14/02/2022 13:26

Stevenson family: lighthouses. (RLS: books.)

George Stephenson: Stockton - Darlington Railway

IKB: stovepipe hat, Clifton Suspension Bridge, SS Great Eastern, Great Western Railway.

Thomas Telford: Ellesmere Canal, including Pontcysllte aqueduct, Menai Suspension bridge.

Richard Trevithick: Pen-y-Darren locomotive

I grew up with all these names (and almost became an industrial archaeologist as a result.) It's funny how others don't know them. A former manager came back from a holiday in Shropshire and was raving on about Ironbridge. I looked a little bemused. "It was the first one in the world!" he said. "Everyone knows that, don't they?" I said, and launched into a short lecture with dates. (I don't like him, else I might have been kinder. But I work with people who know this sort of stuff, do I was surprised he didn't. )

AffIt · 14/02/2022 13:51

[quote TibetanTerrah]@AffIt so they ARE related?! When I found out I'd got them mixed up I ended up down a convoluted rabbit hole full of Roberts and Georges and Steph(v)ensons that made my head hurt so I abandoned it and just accepted my ignorance Grin[/quote]
Yes! But you're right, it's convoluted, particularly in conversation ('do you mean Stevenson with a v or a ph?'). Grin