Traveller, writer, and promoter, born in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, USA. A New York lawyer, he began a series of exotic journeys in 1834, and through his books became known as the American traveller. He wrote Incidents of Travel in Egypt, Arabia Petraea and the Holy Land (1837) and Incidents of Travel in Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland (1838). During 183941 he travelled in Central America and Mexico with the English artist Frederick Catherwood. His two books on their travels and discoveries, beautifully illustrated by Catherwood, were among the first to publicize Mayan remains, and effectively founded the field of Mayan archaeology. He later promoted both steamboat and railroad companies, notably the Panama Railroad (184951). He died prematurely from a disease he contracted in Panama.
John Lloyd Stephens (November 28, 1805–October 13, 1852) was an American explorer, writer, and diplomat. Stephens was a pivotal figure in the rediscovery of Maya civilization and in the planning of the Panama railroad.
Early life
He was born at Shrewsbury, New Jersey, in 1805, the son of Benjamin Stephens. Stephens wrote several popular books about his travels and explorations
Politics
He was recommended for the post of Ambassador to Holland in 1839, but politics prevented him from securing the post.
In 1846 he would be chosen as delegate from New York city to the State Convention of New York to revise the Constitution.
Contribution to Mesoamerican studies
Stephens read with interest early accounts of ruined cities of Mesoamerica by such writers and explorers as Alexander von Humboldt and Juan Galindo.
In 1839, President Martin Van Buren commissioned Stephens as Special Ambassador to Central America. "Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan" gives a vivid description of some of those events which Stephens witnessed. Stephens and his traveling companion, architect and draftsman Frederick Catherwood first came across Maya ruins at Copán, having landed in Belize. Stephens and Catherwood reached Palenque in April 1840 and left in early June.
Stephens continued his investigations of Maya ruins with a return trip to Yucatán which produced a further book.
His books served to inspire Edgar Allan Poe, who also reviewed three of his travel books for the New York Review and Graham's Magazine.
Contribution to the Panama railroad
England, those days, enjoyed the monopoly of ocean navigation to and from the United States. Stephens obtained a charter from the state of New York, and incorporated the Ocean Steam Navigation Company.
When the Panama Railroad Company was founded in 1849, Stephens was chosen to be Vice President.
Stephens is the subject of a biography Maya Explorer by Victor Wolfgang Von Hagan, first published in 1947.
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