John Lloyd Stephens

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**Early Life and Education:**
– John Lloyd Stephens was born on November 28, 1805, in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.
– He was the second son of Benjamin Stephens and Clemence Lloyd.
– Stephens graduated top of his class from Columbia College in 1822, with a strong background in Classics.
– After studying law and passing the bar exam, he practiced in New York City.
– Stephens embarked on travels through Europe, Egypt, and the Levant, authoring books about his explorations.

**Political Career and Reforms:**
– Stephens was recommended for Minister to the Netherlands in 1837.
– He served as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1846.
– Stephens was responsible for introducing a conciliation court and was active in state politics and legal reforms.
– While nominated for Minister to the Netherlands, the position ultimately went to Harmanus Bleecker.

**Contributions to Mesoamerican Studies:**
– Commissioned as Special Ambassador to Central America in 1839, Stephens explored Maya ruins with Frederick Catherwood.
– He documented ruins at Copán, Palenque, Quiriguá, and Uxmal, arguing that the Mayans built ancient Central American cities.
– Stephens’ explorations and writings inspired figures like Edgar Allan Poe.

**Involvement in the Panama Railroad Company:**
– Stephens co-founded the Panama Railroad Company in 1849 and was chosen as its vice president.
– He traveled to Panama and New Granada to arrange railroad construction, sustaining severe injuries during his travels.
– Upon his return to the U.S., Stephens was appointed President of the Panama Railroad.

**Personal Life and Legacy:**
– Stephens was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1841.
– He was struck by malaria in Panama in 1852, recovering briefly before suffering a recurrence in New York.
– Stephens passed away on October 13, 1852, and was buried at New York City Marble Cemetery.
– Remembered for his exploration of Maya ruins and cultural discoveries, Stephens’ legacy lives on in literature and historical accounts, inspiring authors and researchers.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lloyd_Stephens