John Stephenson (zoologist)

[1][2] He was a leading expert on the earthworms of the Indian subcontinent and served as editor of the Fauna of British India series from 1927.

[3] Stephenson was born in Padiham and was education at Burnley Grammar School, matriculated from Owen's College, Manchester and graduated there with a B.Sc.

In 1898 he was appointed Medical Officer to the 2nd (later 22nd) Punjab Cavalry and from 1900 to 1906 he held civil surgeoncies at Peshawar, Ambala and other stations in north-west India.

[4] The Lahore Medical College did not find qualified teachers in zoology and Stephenson was invited by his friend the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir Denzil Ibbetson.

His proposers were Charles Robertson Marshall, Arthur Robinson, D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson and William Peddie.

[6][7] He left Edinburgh University in 1929 to work at the Natural History Museum, London as editor of the Fauna of British India series[2] following the death of Arthur Shipley.