Background
Bell was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
United States representative lawyer politician
Bell was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He attended the public schools and Sewanee College before he moved to Texas in 1871. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1874, and commenced practice in Hamilton, Texas.
By profession, he was a surveyor. Described as "a most efficient back", he made 19 appearances for the Wanderers before "retiring" in 1873. In February 1871, Stephenson was selected to represent England, as the solitary "back", in the third pseudo-international match against Scotland.
The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with goals from Charles Nepean (Scotland) and R.S.F. Walker. Stephenson retained his place, now playing in goal, in the England XI for the next two matches, played on 18 November 1871 and 24 February 1872, which ended in victories for England, by scores of 2–1 and 1–0 respectively. On 20 July 1871, C. W. Alcock, as secretary of the FA, convened a committee meeting at the offices of The Sportsman newspaper and proposed "that it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete".
The proposition was carried and the inaugural tournament kicked off in November 1871. Stephenson also played for the Barnes club and appeared for London against Sheffield in 1871 and 1872. Stephenson was a surveyor by profession, working from offices in Parliament Street, Westminster.
In 1885, he was listed as a subscriber in the formation of The Old Hayswood Coal and Iron Co. Limited. In December 1906, he was shown in the London Gazette as a Land Tax commissioner. Also listed was Lord Kinnaird who had organised the Scottish team in the international matches played in 1870 and 1871.
He also was a member of the Football Association committee that agreed to the foundation of the first national knockout football competition, the FA Cup in 1871. Stephenson was a member of the Wanderers club, making his first appearance on 23 October 1869, aged 16. He was a member of the Football Association (FA) committee from 1871 to 1873.
