John Austin Stevens

John Austin Stevens Jr. (1827–1910) was a leader of business, an adviser of government and a student of the American Revolution. While he was born to a prominent banking family with political connections, it was his interest in U.S. history and his founding of Sons of the Revolution (SR) for which he is best known.

Stevens was born on January 21, 1827, in New York to John Austin Stevens, Sr., and Abigail Perkins Weld. Stevens Jr. married Margaret Antoinette Morris on June 5, 1855 at New York, and died on June 10, 1910 at Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1842, at age 15, Stevens was enrolled at Harvard University. He graduated in 1846 with a proficiency in mathematics, logic and literary composition, and thoroughly versed in English and Spanish literature. While attending college, he accompanied his class to hear U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster speak at the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The speech moved Stevens deeply and led him to the lifelong belief that honoring patriot ancestors was a duty.

After Stevens graduated from college, he moved to New York where he worked initially as a cashier before he established a trading business with Cuba. He also joined and served as an officer of the New York Chamber of Commerce.

Stevens' father was a prominent banker who introduced his son to future U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase and others from New York, Philadelphia and Washington. Stevens joined his father to organize a large political rally for the election in 1860 of Abraham Lincoln as the president of the United States.

...
Wikipedia