He was born in Coupar Angus on 17 July 1836, the son of Patrick James Stevenson.
In 1873 he succeeded Rev Dr John Tannoch as minister of Glamis Church.
[1] As minister for the area covering Glamis Castle his parishioners included members of the Bowes-Lyon family including the Queen Mother and her brother Fergus Bowes-Lyon though circumstances meant that he did not christen either.
His proposers were Hugh Macmillan, Alexander Dickson, James Geikie and John Gray McKendrick.
[2] Stevenson, along with James Stirton, wrote an obituary for botanist Thomas King upon his death in 1896.