18kii Diseembar 1855 Stephenson wuxuu ku biiray Royal Navy, isagoo noqday Cadet Naval ee HMS "St Jean d'Acre", oo uu amar ku bixiyay adeerkiis Henry Keppel, wuxuuna ka soo shaqeeyay Badda Madow intii lagu jiray Dagaalkii Crimea. Laga soo bilaabo Sebtember 1856 ilaa Abriil 1857 Stephenson wuxuu hoos imaan jiray Keppel isagoo ahaa arday ka tirsan HMS "Raleigh", isagoo ka shaqeynayay Bariga Hindiya iyo Shiinaha intii lagu jiray Dagaalkii Labaad ee Ingiriiska iyo Shiinaha
, ilaa ay markabkiisa ku burburtay meel u dhow Macau markii ay ku dhacday dhagax aan la aqoon. Shaqaalaha oo dhan waa la badbaadiyay. Bishii Juun 1857 wuxuu ahaa Midshipman oo ka tirsan HMS "Pearl", isagoo la shaqeynayay "Pearl's Naval Brigade" intii lagu jiray kacdoonkii Hindiya ee 1857, kaas oo lagu xusay Despatches saddex jeer. Bishii Juun 1861 waxaa loo dalacsiiyay taliye HMS "Emerald", oo ka shaqeynayay Channel Squadron.