Joseph Stevenson

Joseph Stevenson (27 November 1806 – 8 February 1895) was an English Church of England and later Catholic priest, archivist and editor of historical texts.

Early life Joseph Stevenson was born on 27 November 1806 in Berwick-on-Tweed, the eldest son of Robert Stevenson, surgeon, and his wife, Elizabeth Wilson. He became librarian at Durham Cathedral. He spent the next seven years cataloging the charters and deeds in the treasury. Townsend appointed Stevenson as curate at St Margaret's Church. ); for the English Historical Society, five volumes (1838–41); for the Roxburghe Club, four volumes; for the Surtees Society, seven volumes, with eight volumes of The Church Historians of England.

Archivist to the British Government

In 1849 he became Vicar of Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, where he would remain until 1862.

Conversion to Catholicism

He converted to Catholicism on 24 June 1863, and following the death of his wife in 1869 he entered the seminary of St Mary's College, Oscott, and in 1872 was ordained priest by Bishop Ullathorne. Next year he was in Rome searching for documents concerning English history from the Vatican archives, being employed by the British Government to begin the series of "Roman Transcripts" for the Record Office - his status as a Catholic allowing him this privileged access. However, after his novitiate he returned again to historical research, and continued his studies until his death. His chief work of this period was the discovery and publication of Claude Nau's Life of Mary Queen of Scots (Edinburgh, 1883). In 1892 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of St Andrews.

Death Stevenson died in London on 8 February 1895 at the House of the Society of Jesus on Mount Street.

Selected published works Narratives of the Expulsion of the English from Normandy, (1863)