Background
He was the eldest son of Joseph Rowntree (1801 – 1859) and Sarah Stephenson (1807 – 1888), his wife. He was born on 2 May 1834.
He was the eldest son of Joseph Rowntree (1801 – 1859) and Sarah Stephenson (1807 – 1888), his wife. He was born on 2 May 1834.
They had nine children. He supported Quaker education in York and the training of women teachers and the higher education of women, in general. He was editor of The Friend from 1875 to 1878.
He was an ardent botanist, a keen archaeologist, and well versed in the history of New York
He was elected Lord Mayor of Yorkin 1880 and during his aldermanship devoted himself to putting the city"s unsatisfactory finances on to a sound basis. He died in London on 13 April 1907.
After his death, some of his writings were collected and published by Phoebe Doncaster, together with a memoir, as John Stephenson Rowntree, his life and work.