James Kenneth Stephen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Kenneth Stephen
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Photograph of James Kenneth Stephen
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| Born | 25 February 1859 London, England
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| Died | 3 February 1892 (aged 32) St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton, England
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| Occupation | Poet |
| Known for | Jack the Ripper suspect Tutor of Prince Albert Victor |
James Kenneth Stephen (born February 25, 1859 – died February 3, 1892) was an English poet. He was also a tutor to Prince Albert Victor. Prince Albert Victor was the oldest son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.
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Early Life and Education
James Kenneth Stephen was the second son of Sir James Fitzjames Stephen. His father was a lawyer. His mother was Mary Richenda Cunningham. Friends and family called him 'Jem'. He was a first cousin to the famous writer Virginia Woolf. Like his cousin, he experienced mood changes that affected him later in life.
As a young student, Stephen went to Eton College. He was a special student called a King's Scholar. He was very tall and strong. This helped him become an excellent player of the Eton Wall Game. He played for the Collegers team from 1874 to 1877. He led his team to victory as the Keeper of the College Wall in his last two years. Every year, students remember him with a special toast: "In Piam Memoriam J.K.S." This means "In loving memory of J.K.S."
Stephen was known for being very smart. People said he spoke in a very clear and interesting way. He continued his studies at King's College, Cambridge, also as a King's Scholar. He was part of the Cambridge Apostles intellectual group. He was also the President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1880. In 1885, he became a Fellow of King's College.
Tutoring Prince Albert Victor
In 1883, Stephen was chosen to be the tutor and companion for Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale. The prince was often called Eddy. He was the son of the Prince of Wales. Stephen was supposed to help the prince improve his schoolwork. This was before the prince went to Trinity College, Cambridge.
Stephen was hopeful at first about teaching the prince. But by the time they were ready to move to Cambridge, he realized it would be hard. He felt the prince would not gain much from university lectures. He said the prince "hardly knows the meaning of the words to read."
Health Challenges
On December 29, 1886, Stephen had a serious accident. He was staying with Felix Cobbold in Felixstowe. He hit his head badly. His physical injuries healed quickly. However, he started showing signs of mental changes. His behavior became unpredictable. This injury might have made his existing mood changes worse. His cousin, Virginia Woolf, also experienced similar health issues.
There are different stories about how the accident happened. One story says he was hit by something from a moving train. Another story says he was injured when his horse backed him into a windmill.
After the accident, Stephen's brain was permanently affected. His behavior became more and more unusual. He would sometimes act strangely. He was cared for by a doctor named Sir William Gull. Stephen's health declined quickly. He found it hard to focus on things. He did manage to finish two books of poetry. Eventually, he needed to be cared for in a special hospital.
Poetry Works
In 1891, James Kenneth Stephen became a published poet. He used the initials J.K.S. He released two collections of poems that year: Lapsus Calami and Quo Musa Tendis. The famous writer Rudyard Kipling called him "that genius." Kipling admired Stephen's writing.
Stephen wrote poems that made fun of things or looked back with fondness. He wrote a funny version of Thomas Gray's "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College." In this poem, he criticized Eton for being too traditional. Stephen was at Cambridge at the same time as M. R. James, who wrote ghost stories. Stephen mentioned him in a Latin poem about important people at King's College:
Vivat J.K. Stephanus,
Humilis poeta!
Vivat Monty Jamesius,
Vivant A, B, C, D, E
Et totus Alphabeta!
Stephen's poem "The Old School List" is in his book Quo Musa Tendis. It talks about his time at Eton. The author of Eton School Lists 1853-1892 included this poem. He called Stephen "an Etonian of great promise." Stephen was friends with Harry Goodhart at Eton. Goodhart later became a famous football player and a professor. Stephen mentions him in "The Old School List":
There were two good fellows I used to know.
--How distant it all appears!
We played together in football weather,
And messed together for years:
Now one of them's wed, and the other's dead
So long that he's hardly missed
Save by us, who messed with him years ago:
But we're all in the old School List.
Later Life and Passing
On November 24, 1891, Stephen's landlady found him acting strangely. He was in his rooms in Trinity Street, Cambridge. He had thrown his belongings into the street. He was very upset, believing he was about to be arrested. His brothers, Herbert and Harry, came from London. They took him to St Andrew's Hospital, a mental health facility in Northampton.
In January 1892, Stephen heard sad news. His former student, Prince Albert Victor, had passed away. The prince was 28 years old and died from an illness. After hearing this, Stephen refused to eat. He passed away 20 days later, at the age of 32. His death certificate stated the cause was "mania," which refers to a severe mental state.
Legacy and Remembrance
Stephen's amazing performance in the Eton Wall Game is still a school legend. Stories say that in his last year, he held off the entire opposing team by himself for five minutes. This gave his teammates time to catch up. Because of this, the King's Scholars at Eton College still honor him. They raise a toast at special dinners: in piam memoriam J.K.S. This means "to the pious memory of James Kenneth Stephen."
Images for kids
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Photograph of James Kenneth Stephen
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James Kenneth Stephen
