{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} thumb|right|Rufus Stephenson <br> Source: Library and Archives Canada
'''Rufus Stephenson''' (January 14, 1835 – February 15, 1901) was an Ontario newspaper editor and political figure. He represented Kent in the House of Commons of Canada as a Conservative member from 1867 to 1882.<ref name="parl">{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=15331|nolist=yes}}</ref>
He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1835,<ref name="parl"/> the son of Eli Stephenson and Chloe Chapin.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0QgxUAAx8kQC&pg=PA645 |title=A cyclopedia of Canadian biography: being chiefly men of the time ... |last=Rose |first=George M |year=1886 |pages=645–6 |accessdate=2009-09-14}}</ref> He was educated at the Grantham Academy in St. Catharines, Province of Canada.<ref name="johnson">{{cite book |title=The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967 |last=Johnson |first=J.K. |year=1968 |publisher=Public Archives of Canada}}</ref> Stephenson worked as a printer in St. Catharines and came to Chatham around 1850. With Charles Stuart, he took over the ownership of the ''Western Planet'', later the ''Chatham Planet'', which he managed until 1878. He was elected to the town council in 1861, served as reeve in 1863 and mayor in 1865-1866.<ref name="lauriston">Victor Lauriston (1952). ''Romantic Kent''</ref> He served as government whip from 1878 to 1882.<ref name="parl"/> After he retired from federal politics, he served as customs collector at Chatham until his death in 1901. Stephenson was a member of the Freemasons.<ref name="lauriston"/>
In 1854, he married Georgianna Emma Andrew.<ref name="johnson"/>
==Electoral record== {{Canadian election result/top|CA|1867}} {{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|STEPHENSON, Rufus|1,524}} {{CANelec|CA|Unknown|MCKELLAR, Archibald|1,427}} |}
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1872}} {{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|STEPHENSON, Rufus|1,874}} {{CANelec|CA|Unknown|STRIPP, Wm. S.| 1,730}} |}
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1874}} {{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|STEPHENSON, Rufus|1,895}} {{CANelec|CA|Unknown|STRIPP, Wm. S.| 1,823}} |}
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1878}} {{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|STEPHENSON, Rufus|2,502}} {{CANelec|CA|Unknown|MCMAHON, H.|1,969}} |}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Rufus}} Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario Category:Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) MPs Category:1835 births Category:1901 deaths Category:Mayors of Chatham, Ontario Category:19th-century mayors of places in Ontario Category:19th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada