William Stephenson

William Stephenson MBE (1916–1996) was a British/Australian marine biologist and academic. Early life William Stephenson was born on 14 June 1916 in Fence Houses, Durham, England. His father was a schoolteacher. From the age of 5 he was interested in zoology. He attended Kings College, Durham and took his B.Sc. with honours in zoology in 1938 and received his PhD in zoology from Durham University in 1941. He took a Diploma in Theory and Practice of Teaching at Durham in 1939. He lectured at Kings College, Newcastle and the University of Bristol, under Maurice Yonge. He led students on vacation fieldwork in marine biology at the University College, Bangor and Cullercoats. He also worked as a lecturer and naturalist at the Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats, part of Kings College, Newcastle. He became a full-time naturalist researcher in marine biology in 1947. War service Stephenson was involved in non-active service during WW2 with the University Senior Training Corps. He was commissioned in the University of Bristol Senior Training Corps. Move to Australia Stephenson accepted a professorial position at the University of Queensland in 1949. He promoted the establishment of marine research stations for the university at North Stradbroke Island in Moreton Bay and Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef. He retired from the university in 1982. He published over 24 papers, books and reports. From 1956, his research focussed on swimming crabs of the family Portunidae. He was made an Emeritus Professor following his retirement.