John Riccardo Stephens

John Riccardo Stephens (11 Oct 1827 – 2 September 1912)[1] was a pioneering teacher, preacher and medical doctor in South Australia.

Stephens was born in St Agnes, Cornwall, and was taken at an early age by his parents to New Brunswick, Canada, then in 1831 to Bermuda, where he was educated, strongly influenced by the preacher J.

[2] In 1850, at age 23, he left for Australia with the rush to the Victorian gold diggings, but had no luck and shortly returned to England.

[3] In 1853 he returned to Australia as chaplain on the emigrant ship Ramillies, landing in Adelaide, and through Rev.

Eventually he returned to South Australia, taking up land at Hallett, then moved to Gumeracha, where he remained, practising as a physician for 20 years.

The appointments of that time were all performed on foot, and extended to Montacute, Mitcham, Brighton, Fulham, and Plympton.

At Brighton Father Edwards used to meet us at the Forest Inn, and bring us back again after the evening service.

After two years' labour I received a call to take charge of the Wesleyan day school at the Burra, and immediately associated myself with religious work in that circuit.

The opening of a church at Terowie was due to Dr Torr, who as teacher at Ulooloo was enabled to extend his labours further north.