Charles Alexander Stevenson

Charles Alexander Stevenson
Charles A Stevsenson
Born	1855
Died	1950 Edinburgh, Scotland
Alma mater	Edinburgh University
Occupation	Lighthouse engineer
Children	D. Alan Stevenson Two daughters
Parent(s)	David Stevenson (father)
Relatives	Robert Stevenson (grandfather)

Charles Alexander Stevenson MICE MIEE FRSE (1855,Edinburgh – 1950) was a Scottish lighthouse engineer who built twenty three lighthouses in and around Scotland.

He was born at 8 Forth Street in north-east Edinburgh The family moved to 20 Royal Terrace on Calton Hill shortly after his birth.

Born into the famous Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers, son of David Stevenson and his wife Elizabeth Mackay, brother of David Alan Stevenson, and nephew of Thomas Stevenson, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy 1866 to 1872 then studied Mathematics and Engineering at Edinburgh University where he graduated BSc. He joined the family business of lighthouse design in 1875 but remained unpaid as a family member until 1887 when his uncle, Thomas Stevenson died, whereafter he became a partner. Between 1887 and 1937 he built twenty three lighthouses with his brother, David, and is noted for his experiments with optics. He also improved foghorns and created his own wireless communication system prior to Marconi's wireless.

In 1886 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Sir John Murray, Peter Guthrie Tait, George Chrystal and Alexander Buchan.

He lived at 9 Manor Place in Edinburgh with Ernest Maddox as his neighbour at 7 Manor Place.

He died on 9 May 1950.

His cousin was Robert Louis Stevenson, and grandfather was the lighthouse engineer, Robert Stevenson.