[1] Stevenson Archer was born at Medical Hall, Harford County, Maryland, near Churchville, on February 28, 1827, to Pamelia B.

[5][4] His sister, Pamelia H. Archer, was the mother of George Earle Chamberlain, the 11th Governor of Oregon and a two term United States Senator.

[5] Archer attended Bel Air Academy, later graduating from Princeton College in 1848.

He studied law at the office of Otho Scott in Bel Air, and was admitted to the bar in 1850, commencing practice the same year.

[2][3] In 1867, Archer was appointed as judge for a term on the Cecil County court.

[3] Archer died from Bright's disease on August 2, 1898, at the City Hospital in Baltimore.