Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Na 18 Disemba 1855 Stephenson sonyeere Royal Navy, na-aghọ onye Naval Cadet na HMS "St Jean d'Acre", nke nwanne nna ya bụ Henry Keppel nyere iwu, na-eje ozi na Oké Osimiri Ojii n'oge Agha Crimea. Site na Septemba 1856 ruo Eprel 1857 Stephenson jere ozi n'okpuru Keppel dị ka onye na-agụ akwụkwọ na HMS "Raleigh", na-eje ozi na East Indies na China n'oge
Agha nke Abụọ nke Anglo-Chinese, ruo mgbe ụgbọ ya kpuru n'akụkụ Macau mgbe ọ kụrụ nkume a na-amaghị ama. A zọpụtara ndị ọrụ ụgbọ mmiri ahụ nile. N'ọnwa Juun afọ 1857, o jere ozi dịka onye Midshipman na HMS "Pearl", na-eje ozi na "Pearl's Naval Brigade n'oge ọgba aghara India nke 1857, nke a kpọtụrụ ya aha na Despatches ugboro atọ. N'ọnwa Juun afọ 1861, e buliri ya n'ọkwa lieutenant na HMS "Emerald", na-eje ozi na Channel Squadron.