Thomas Stephens

Thomas Stephens, MA, FGS, was an Australian educationist. Stephens was second son of the Rev. William Stephens, B.A., vicar of Levens, Westmoreland, England. The family came originally from the South of England, but a branch of it was settled for many years in County Cavan, Ireland, where they held considerable landed property. Mr. Stephens' grandfather was vicar of Castletown, Delvin, co. Westmeath. His father migrated to England, after being ordained, and remained, until his death in 1864, in charge of the Westmoreland parish. Thomas Stephens was born at Levens, Westmorland in 1830, received his education at Marlborough College, proceeding thence to Oxford in 1850. Here he entered first at The Queen's College, Oxford, where his elder brother, Professor William Stephens, of the University of Sydney, was afterwards Fellow and Tutor; but subsequently obtained a scholarship at Magdalen Hall, now Hertford College. In 1854, he took his B.A. degree, and ten years later received that of M.A.