Career
Educated at Marlborough College, Stephenson was commissioned into the 56th Regiment of Foot in 1874. He served in the Second Boer War in which he commanded a column which took part in the attack on Plessis Poort. He also served in the Zulu Rebellion of 1905 and became General Officer Commanding 6th Division in 1906, General Officer Commanding 2nd Division in 1907 and Commander of the Troops in the Straits Settlements in 1910.
He served in World War I as General Officer Commanding 65th (2nd Lowland) Division before retiring in 1918.