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.

In 1914, a group of Jewish farmers at Ste-Sophie in Terrebonne County formed a committee to establish a public school under the Protestant School Commission. The purpose of the school was to provide both general and Jewish education. Classes were taught in English in the mornings, and in Hebrew in the afternoon; later, the Hebrew element in the programme was detached and placed under a special commission.