Family and Education

bap. 8 Oct. 1691, at Crosthwaite, Cumb., 1st s. of Edward Stephenson of Keswick, Cumb. by Rebecca, da. of John Winder of Lorton, Cumb. and London. m. 30 Apr. 1741, Anne, da. of William Jennings of Gt. Russell St., Bloomsbury, and Fort St. George, India, s.p.

Offices Held

Writer, E.I. Co.’s service 1708, factor 1714; third in embassy to Delhi 1714-17; chief of factory at Balasor 1717-18; chief at Patna and later at Cassimbazar 1719-29; member of council at Fort William 1720; pres. and gov. Fort William 17-18 Sept. 1728; sheriff, Essex 1742-4.

Biography

Edward Stephenson arrived in Bengal early in 1710, securing rapid promotion. On the death of the governor in 1728 the presidency of Fort William devolved on him, but he was superseded next day by another governor, who arrived from England with a new commission.1 Returning to England in 1730, he bought an estate at Great Bardfield, in Essex,2 less than 20 miles from Sudbury, for which he was returned in 1734 after a contest, voting against the Administration, but did not stand again. He bought Dawley from Bolingbroke in 1738 for £26,000 and sold it soon after 1748.3 From 1755 to 1765 he was listed in directories as a merchant of Queen Square, Bloomsbury, where he died, 7 Sept. 1768.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. Jnl. of Asiatic Soc. of Bengal, lxvii. i. 167-74; C.R. Wilson, Early Annals of Bengal, ii and iii passim.
• 2. Morant, Essex, ii. 520.
• 3. Pope to Swift, 17 May 1739; Lysons, Mdx. 127-8.