Alan Stevenson was born in
Edinburgh on 28 April 1807, the eldest son of Jean Smith and her husband (and step-brother)
Robert Stevenson. With his father, and brothers
David and
Thomas, he was part of a notable family of engineers and lighthouse builders. The writer
Robert Louis Stevenson was his nephew. He was educated at the
High School in Edinburgh. In 1821, he attended the
University of Edinburgh to study Latin, Greek and mathematics with a view to becoming a member of the clergy. However, 2 years later in 1823, he decided to pursue a career in engineering and began a four-year apprenticeship at his father's business. Between 1843 and 1853 he built 13 lighthouses in and around
Scotland. Among his notable works is the
Skerryvore Lighthouse. He was Engineer in Chief to the
Northern Lighthouse Board from 1843 to 1853. In 1838 he was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being
James David Forbes. In 1840 the
University of Glasgow conferred on him an honorary LLB degree. He died at 13 Pitt Street (later renamed Pittville St.) in
Portobello on 23 December 1865. He is buried in the Stevenson family vault in
New Calton Cemetery with his wife, Margaret Scott Jones. The vault lies midway along the eastern wall. ==Publications==