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Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) is a native of Edinburgh. He came from several generations of distinguished lighthouse designers and engineers. His homes in Edinburgh were all in the New Town. 

8 Howard Place - birth to 2 years

He was born at 8 Howard Place, Inverleith Row. After a couple of years, the family moved to 1 Inverleith Terrace (now no. 9), very nearby and overlooking the Royal Botanic Garden. Then in 1807 the family finally settled at 17 Heriot Row (house with the red door). This was his home in Edinburgh until he was 30. Nowadays Heriot Row is sometimes known as Millionaires' Row.

Howard Place was built in the early 19th century by James Gillespie Graham. Two-storey houses with rusticated ground floor. The front gardens may have been the first for an Edinburgh terrace.
Inverleith Terrace overlooks the Royal Botanic Garden. It was designed by John Tait and built in 1834.
Heriot Row was designed in 1802-3 by Robert Reid. The front faces south over Queen Street Gardens and the rear looks across the Firth of Forth to Fife.

At the corner of Heriot Row, the view down Howe Street towards Fife. St Stephen church of 1827-8 by William J. Playfair.

Stevenson attended Edinburgh University in the Old Town, studying law and science, but he was more attracted to the Bohemian life and wanted to be a writer. He spent much time across the road at the Rutherford pub in Drummond Street. A commemorative plaque has been placed at the corner with an extract from one of his letters on the subject.

Life and work of  Robert Louis Stevenson - nice summary at SLAINTE

Extensive website devoted to Robert Louis Stevenson

Wikipedia on Stevenson

Map (searchable)

More of Edinburgh at Astoft