John Stephenson Rowntree facts for kids

John Stephenson Rowntree (born May 2, 1834 – died April 13, 1907) was an important person in the Rowntree's chocolate company in York. He was also a reformer for the Quaker group in the United Kingdom. He worked to make things better for his community and for the Quaker faith.

He was the oldest son of Joseph Rowntree (1801–1859) and his wife Sarah Stephenson (1807–1888).

John Stephenson Rowntree married Elizabeth Hotham (1835–1875) on August 25, 1858. They had nine children together. After Elizabeth passed away, he married Helen Doncaster (1833–1920) on April 10, 1878.

Early Life and Work

John Stephenson Rowntree wrote a book called Quakerism Past and Present in 1859. He was only 24 years old when he wrote it. This book looked closely at the Quaker faith in Britain during the 1800s. It helped bring about some important changes within the Quaker community.

He strongly believed in education. He supported Quaker schools in York. He also helped train women to become teachers. He believed that women should have more chances to get a good education. From 1875 to 1878, he was the editor of The Friend, a magazine for Quakers.

Public Service and Interests

John Stephenson Rowntree had many interests. He loved plants and was a very enthusiastic botanist. He was also interested in old things and was a keen archaeologist. He knew a lot about the history of York, the city where he lived.

In 1880, he was chosen to be the Lord Mayor of York. This is a very important leadership role in the city. During his time as a city leader, he worked hard to fix the city's money problems. He helped make sure York's finances were managed well.

Legacy

After John Stephenson Rowntree passed away, some of his writings were collected. His sister-in-law, Phebe Doncaster, published them in a book. This book also included a story about his life. It was called John Stephenson Rowntree, his life and work.