James Brunton Stephens

James Brunton Stephens (17 June 1835 – 29 June 1902) was a Scottish-born Australian poet, and author of Convict Once.

Early life

Stephens was born in Bo'ness, on the Firth of Forth, Scotland; the son of John Stephens, the parish schoolmaster, and his wife Jane, née Brunton.

In September 1878, Stephens became a founding member and an early president of the famed literary Johnsonian Club, Brisbane; 'an institution being the association of pressmen, artists, actors, and scientists'.

In 1883 he was appointed to a clerical position in the Colonial Secretary's department, where he was promoted to undersecretary.

"The Dominion" was quoted in Sir Henry Parkes' 'Tenterfield Oration', an 1889 speech calling for the federation of Australia.

In 1892 he wrote the libretto for a comic opera, Fayette; or, Bush Revels. G. B. Allen was the composer.

Personal

On 10 November 1876, Stephens had married Rosalie Mary Donaldson (1846–1932), Stephens was buried in the same joint plot as his parents-in-law, Thomas Willet Donaldson (c. 1810–1875) and Barbara Donaldson (c. 1814–1898), and survived by his wife, four daughters, and one son. His wife, and three daughters (Jessie, Mary and Georgina) were later interred in the family plot.