Thomas Alan Stephenson

Stephenson was born at Burnham-on-Sea, the son of a minister and amateur botanist. He soon developed an interest in natural history and went to study at University College, Aberystwyth. He began to study the local sea anemones there, but had to abandon his studies because of illness. Despite not completing his degree, he was made a staff member and was later awarded a doctorate for the body of work that he had produced.

Stephenson held a number of academic posts in Britain, and at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Significantly, his final position was that of Professor and Head of the Department of Zoology at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.

The National Marine Biological Library at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth hold some of his personal and scientific records, including paintings, negatives and notebooks on South Africa.