Francis Seymour Stevenson (24 November 1862 – 9 April 1938) was a British

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

politician, author and scholar. He was elected at the 1885 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for

Eye An eye is a sensory organ that allows an organism to perceive visual information. It detects light and converts it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons (neurones). It is part of an organism's visual system. In higher organisms, the ey ...

Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...

, and held the seat until his

resignation Resignation is the formal act of relinquishing or vacating one's office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term, or ...

from the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

on 19 March 1906 (after that year's general election) by becoming

Steward of the Manor of Northstead The office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead functions as a procedural device to allow a member of Parliament (MP) to resign from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. As members of the House of Commons are forbidde ...

. Stevenson resided at Playford Mount, Suffolk, and at 5 Ennismore Gardens, London. He was born in

British Mauritius Mauritius was a Crown colony off the southeast coast of Africa. Formerly part of the French colonial empire, British rule in Mauritius was established ''de facto'' with the invasion of Isle de France in November 1810, and ''de jure'' by the sub ...

, where his father, William Stevenson, was Governor, and baptized at Moka, Mauritius. He was educated at Lausanne,

Harrow Harrow may refer to: Places * Harrow, Victoria, Australia * Harrow, Ontario, Canada * The Harrow, County Wexford, a village in Ireland * London Borough of Harrow, England * Harrow, London, a town in London * Harrow (UK Parliament constituency) * ...

, and at

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world. With a governing body of a master and aro ...

where he matriculated on 29 January 1881 at age 18. He was an

Exhibitioner An exhibition is a type of historical financial scholarship or bursary awarded in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Purpose An exhibition is historically a small financial award or grant, of lower status than a "scholarship", given to an individu ...

from 1879 to 1884 (Honors: 2 Classical Mods. 1882, and 1st class Literary Humanities 1884) with Bachelor of Arts 1884 and was a student of

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

in 1883. In Suffolk, he served as J.P and D.L, as well as M.P. for their Eye Division from 1885. He served as President of the Anglo-Armenian Association from 1892 and on the

Civil List A civil list is a list of individuals to whom money is paid by the government, typically for service to the state or as honorary pensions. It is a term especially associated with the United Kingdom, and its former colonies and dominions. It was ori ...

Committee in 1901. He was Parliamentary Charity Commissioner for England and Wales from 1894 to 1895. He also served as County

Alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law with similar officials existing in the Netherlands (wethouder) and Belgium (schepen). The term may be titular, denotin ...

for East Suffolk and was Knight Commander of the Greek

Order of the Redeemer The Order of the Redeemer (), also known as the Order of the Saviour, is an order of merit of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state. Establishment The establishment of the Orde ...

. Stevenson scholarly works include ''Parish Councils'' (1892); ''Historic Personality'' (1893); ''The Case for the Armenians'' (1893); ''Life of Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln'' (1899); ''Poems: In Various Moods for Various Ages'' (1911); ''A History of Montenegro'' (1912); ''November Sunsets: And Other Poems'' (1919); and ''Conflict and Quest'' (1926).Stevenson, Francis Seymour 1862-193
OCLC WorldCat Identities
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* 1862 births 1938 deaths Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1885–1886 UK MPs 1886–1892 UK MPs 1892–1895 UK MPs 1895–1900 UK MPs 1900–1906 UK MPs 1906–1910 People educated at Harrow School Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Members of Lincoln's Inn Church Estates Commissioners {{England-Liberal-UK-MP-stub