Ramba uchiverenga ndima iyi - Musi wa18 Zvita 1855 Stephenson akabatana neRoyal Navy, achiva Naval Cadet muHMS "St Jean d'Acre", yaitungamirirwa nasekuru vake Henry Keppel, uye achishanda muGungwa Dema panguva yeHondo yeCrimea. Kubva muna September 1856 kusvika muna April 1857 Stephenson akashanda pasi paKeppel semudzidzi wechikoro muHMS "Raleigh", achishanda kuEast Indies neChina munguva yechipiri yeAnglo-Chinese War
, kutozosvikira ngarava yake yaparara pedyo neMacau apo yakarova dombo risingazivikanwi. Vashandi vose vakaponeswa. Muna June 1857 akashanda seMidshipman muHMS "Pearl", achishanda ne "Pearl's Naval Brigade panguva yeIndia Mutiny ya1857, panguva iyo yaakataurwa muDespatches katatu. Muna June 1861 akasimudzirwa kuva lieutenant muHMS "Emerald", achishanda muChannel Squadron.