United States Army Officer. Born in Staten Island, New York, Stevenson first saw military service while he was a child during the War of 1812 when he led his classmates in the building of entrenchments in New York City. His leadership caught the attention of then New York Governor Daniel C. Tompkins and when Tompkins was elected Vice-President of the United States, Stevenson was appointed his private secretary serving until 1824. After continuing to serve New York in both the military and in the state assembly, and with the outbreak of the Mexican War, Col. Stevenson was given permission from President James Polk to raise a regiment of volunteers to take and occupy California. Originally designated the Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, later to be renamed the First New York, the regiment arrived in San Francisco in March 1847. Shortly after his arrival, he was appointed military commander of Monterey serving until May 1847 when he was appointed military commander of the Southern District of California. He and his regiment remained in military service until their discharge in 1849 and many of the men under his command went on to be important pioneers in the state. With the coming of the Civil War, Stevenson again raised a force, this time with San Francisco Fire Chief David Scannell, which prevented an attempted Secessionist takeover of San Francisco in 1861. A long time member of the Freemasons, he was chosen in 1849 as the first Grand Master Mason of California. Originally buried in San Francisco's Laurel Hill Cemetery, he was later moved to Cypress Lawn Memorial Park following the eviction of cemeteries from San Francisco city limits.
He was married twice; first to Eliza Rider (1803-1845) in 1821 in New York City, NY and Elizabeth Mary Hart (1826-1897) in 1851 in San Francisco, CA.
He was married twice; first to Eliza Rider (1803-1845) in 1821 in New York City, NY and Elizabeth Mary Hart (1826-1897) in 1851 in San Francisco, CA.
United States Army Officer. Born in Staten Island, New York, Stevenson first saw military service while he was a child during the War of 1812 when he led his classmates in the building of entrenchments in New York City. His leadership caught the attention of then New York Governor Daniel C. Tompkins and when Tompkins was elected Vice-President of the United States, Stevenson was appointed his private secretary serving until 1824. After continuing to serve New York in both the military and in the state assembly, and with the outbreak of the Mexican War, Col. Stevenson was given permission from President James Polk to raise a regiment of volunteers to take and occupy California. Originally designated the Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, later to be renamed the First New York, the regiment arrived in San Francisco in March 1847. Shortly after his arrival, he was appointed military commander of Monterey serving until May 1847 when he was appointed military commander of the Southern District of California. He and his regiment remained in military service until their discharge in 1849 and many of the men under his command went on to be important pioneers in the state. With the coming of the Civil War, Stevenson again raised a force, this time with San Francisco Fire Chief David Scannell, which prevented an attempted Secessionist takeover of San Francisco in 1861. A long time member of the Freemasons, he was chosen in 1849 as the first Grand Master Mason of California. Originally buried in San Francisco's Laurel Hill Cemetery, he was later moved to Cypress Lawn Memorial Park following the eviction of cemeteries from San Francisco city limits.
He was married twice; first to Eliza Rider (1803-1845) in 1821 in New York City, NY and Elizabeth Mary Hart (1826-1897) in 1851 in San Francisco, CA.
He was married twice; first to Eliza Rider (1803-1845) in 1821 in New York City, NY and Elizabeth Mary Hart (1826-1897) in 1851 in San Francisco, CA.
Bio by: G.Photographer
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