In 1888 Stevenson fulfilled a long-held dream and chartered a yacht to sail through the Pacific. He spent three years on the seas, visiting many different places and even befriending the King of Hawaii. He eventually settled on Upolu, a Samoan island. He spent the rest of his life here, getting involved in island politics and becoming well regarded by the islanders. He took the Samoan name Tusitala (Teller of Tales). He died unexpectedly on the evening of 3rd December 1894 whilst opening a bottle of wine for his wife. His final words were to ask his wife, “Does my face look strange?”. He then collapsed, dying a few hours later of a suspected cerebral haemorrhage.

  The burial of Robert Louis Stevenson