Served with British Intelligence during World War I as a translator
Moved to Liverpool, England permanently in 1892, where he worked as a translator until he could establish himself as a full-time novel writer in 1905
Spent his early years in several locations across Europe, living in Italy, England, and Portugal and attending school in Switzerland
It is often thought that he was born illegitimate, a theme which appears in several of his novels, including "The Lion's Skin," "Scaramouche," and "The Tavern Knight․"
Among his numerous novels were "Mistress Wilding," "The Black Swan," "The Sea-Hawk," and "Bellarion․"
Best known as a romance and adventure novel writer whose works were made into films like "Captain Blood" and "Scaramouche․"
The inscription that his wife, Christine Dixon, chose for his grave upon his death in 1950 was the first line from "Scaramouche:" "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad․"
Although he spoke several languages, he chose to write his novels in English because, according to him, "all the best stories are written in English․"