[1][failed verification] He was the only son of John Stevens Jr. (1715–1792), a prominent state politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and Elizabeth Alexander (1726–1800).

[3] At public auction, he bought from the state of New Jersey a piece of land which had been confiscated from a Tory landowner.

[4] During the 1830s, he developed the land around his estate into the Elysian Fields, a popular weekend recreational and entertainment destination for New Yorkers during the 19th century.

As one of the original stockholders and directors of The Manhattan Company, Stevens was appointed to a three-person committee, along with John B. Coles and Samuel Osgood, to explore the best ways to supply water to New York City.

However, due to poor sealing, the design was abandoned and he would switch to using more conventional reciprocating engines for future steamboats.

[8] In 1806, he built the Phoenix, a steamboat that ultimately sailed from Hoboken to Philadelphia in 1809, thereby becoming the first steamship to successfully navigate the open ocean.

[9] In October 1811, Stevens' ship the Juliana began operation as the first steam-powered ferry (service was between New York City, and Hoboken, New Jersey).

[11] In 1825, he designed and built a steam locomotive, which he operated on a circle of track at his estate in Hoboken, New Jersey.