Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/453

 Stephens, William John, M.A., F.G.S., formerly professor in Sydney University, was the son of the Rev. William Stephens, of Heversham, Westmoreland, and was born on July 16th, 1829, at Levens, in that county. He was educated at Marlborough School, and at Queen's College, Oxford, where he was scholar from 1848 to 1853; Fellow from 1853 to 1860; Lecturer in 1854; and Tutor from 1855 to 1856. Professor Stephens, who graduated B.A. in 18551852 [sic] and M.A. in 1855, accepted the post of head master of Sydney Grammar School, and held it for ten years, when he founded the Eaglesfield School, which he conducted with success for fifteen years. He was then appointed Professor of Geology and Palæontology at the Sydney University, a post which he retained until his death. During the interval which elapsed between the death of Dr. and the appointment of Professor Scott, Professor Stephens took charge of the higher classical work at the University. Among other offices held by him at the time of his death, which took place in Sydney in JulyNovember [sic] 1890, were those of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Free Public Library, Trustee of the Sydney Museum, President of the Linnæan Society, President of the Royal Geographical Society, and President of the Zoological Society.  Stevens, Hon. Edward Cephas John, M.L.C., youngest son of the Rev. W. Stevens, rector of Salford, Oxfordshire, was born on Oct. 18th, 1837, and educated at Marlborough College and at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Mr. Stevens settled in New Zealand in Sept. 1858. He was a member of the Canterbury provincial executive from 1863 to 1866. At the general election in that year he was elected M.H.R. for Selwyn, but was defeated at the next election, owing to his opposition to the tax on imported grain. In 1876 he was returned for Christchurch, and again in 1879, but declined to stand in 1882, when he was appointed to the Legislative Council, in which he still holds a seat. Mr. Stevens, who was a strong Free-trader and opponent of provincialism from the time he entered public life, is understood to have been the real originator of the "Public Trust Office," of which Sir was the legislative sponsor. In Oct. 1887 he accepted office in the administration without portfolio, resigning with his colleagues in Dec. 1891.  Stevenson, George, was born at Berwick-on-Tweed on April 13th, 1799, and went to sea in an East Indiaman commanded by his uncle. Not liking the life, he returned to Scotland, and obtained a rudimentary knowledge of medicine. He then had a varied experience in Canada, Central America and the West Indies; and ultimately became connected with the literary staff of the London Globe. Returning to England in 1830, he wrote a work entitled "France," in conjunction with the late Sir Henry Bulwer, afterwards Lord Dalling. In 1835 he succeeded Mr. John Gorton as editor of the Globe; but becoming strongly impressed with the virtues of the Wakefield system of colonisation, he decided to emigrate to South Australia, and obtained the position of private secretary to Captain (afterwards Sir), the first Governor. Prior to his departure from England, in June 1836, he married Miss Margaret Gorton, and also entered into a partnership with Mr. Robert Thomas for the production of a newspaper in the new colony, of which he was to be editor and Mr. Thomas manager and printer. In pursuance of this arrangement the first number of the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register was issued in London on June 18th, 1836. It contained all the official notices of the new colony, with an addendum of general news. The second number was published in Adelaide on June 3rd, 1837; and in it was notified Mr. Stevenson's appointment as clerk of the Council and a justice of the peace. Soon after Governor 's appointment, in 1838, Mr. Stevenson resigned his various official posts; and the Gazette was separated from what now became the South Australian Register, of which Mr. Stevenson continued editor till 1842, when the disastrous financial crisis compelled him to sever his connection with the paper. He subsequently established the South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal, which he conducted with much ability till the crisis occasioned by the discovery of gold in Victoria, when it was dropped. Mr. Stevenson, who was subsequently coroner of Adelaide and its suburbs, was the defendant in a libel action brought  437