John James Stevenson was born on October 10, 1841, in New York City, New York.

He was an American geologist and author. He studied at New York University (B.D., 1863). In 1863, he went to upper New York State, where he taught mathematics and natural science for a year at the Mexico Academy. He was an editor of the American Educational Monthly. In 1865, New York University granted Stevenson an honorary degree of D.D. He resigned from his post as an editor after completing his further studies at New York University (M.A., 1866; Ph.D., 1867) and undertook a professional career as a geologist in the western mining regions. He became a Professor of Chemistry and Natural History at West Virginia University (1869–1871) and then served as Professor of Geology at New York University until 1909. He was a geologist for the United States Geological Survey (1873-1874, 1878-1880) and a member of the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania (1875-1878, 1881-1882). He served as the first secretary of the Geological Society of America (1888-1890), and, in 1898, he became its president. He was vice-president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1891-1892), president of the New York Academy of Science (1896-1898), and a member of the American Philosophical Society. Stevenson held the honorary degree of LL.D. from Princeton, Washington, and Jefferson. He published numerous articles, papers, and books related to his field of study.

In 1865, he married Mary C. Ewing (1841–1926). He died on August 10, 1924, in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Rev. John Frederick Stevenson was born on March 9, 1833, in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England.

He was a clergyman. He was educated at University College, London (B.A., honorary LL.D.) and Regent's Park Theological College (D.D.). He served the congregations in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire (1854-1858), Nottingham (1858-1863), and Reading (1863-1873). In 1874, he moved to Montreal, Quebec, and served as a pastor at the new Emmanuel Church for the next twelve years. While in Montreal, he held the position of the chairman of the Protestant School Board and Principal of the new Congregational College (1882-1885). In 1886, he returned to London and served at Brixton Independent Church. In 1890, he resigned due to failing health and returned to Montreal to join his children. He received an honorary degree of D.D. from Queen's University.

In 1863, he married Matilda Boyle Davis (1838–1938). He died in 1892 in Montreal, Quebec.