Steinbart (Gotthelf, Samuel), German rationalist, b. Züllichau, 21 Sept. 1738. Brought up in a pietist school, he became a Freethinker through reading Voltaire. In ’74, he became Prof. of Philosophy at Frankfurt-on-the-Oder, and wrote a System of Pure Philosophy, ’78. Died, 3 Feb. 1809.
Steinthal (Hajjim), German philologist, b. Gröbzig, 16 May, 1823, has written many works on language and mythology.
Steller (Johann), Advocate at Leipsic, published an heretical work, Pilatus liberatoris Jesu subsidio defensus, Dresden, 1674.
“Stendhal (M. de),” Pseud, see [Beyle (M. H.)]
Stephen (Sir James FitzJames), English judge and writer, b. London, 3 March, 1829. Studied at Cambridge, graduated B.A. ’52, and was called to the bar in ’54. He was counsel for the Rev. Rowland Williams when tried for heresy for writing in Essays and Reviews, and his speech was reprinted in ’62. He wrote in the Saturday Review, and reprinted Essays by a Barrister. From Dec. ’69, to April, ’72, he was Legal Member of the Indian Council, and in ’79 was appointed judge. He is author of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, ’73, and some valuable legal works. He has written much in the Nineteenth Century, notably on the Blasphemy Law ’83, and Modern Catholicism, Oct. ’87.
Stephen (Leslie), English man of letters, brother of preceding, b. London, 28 Nov. 1832. Educated at Cambridge where he graduated M.A., ’57. He married a daughter of Thackeray, and became editor of the Cornhill Magazine from ’71–82, when he resigned to edit the Dictionary of National Biography. Mr. Stephen also contributed to Macmillan, the Fortnightly, and other reviews. Some of his boldest writing is found in Essays on Freethinking and Plainspeaking, ’73. He has also written an important History of English Thought in the Eighteenth Century, ’76, dealing with the Deistic movement, and The Science of Ethics, ’82, besides many literary works.
Stern (J)., Rabbiner, German writer, b. of Jewish parents, Liederstetten (Wurtemburg), his father being Rabbi of the town. In ’58 he went to the Talmud High School, Presburg and studied the Kabbalah, which he intended to translate into German. To do this he studied Spinoza, whose philosophy converted him. In ’63 he graduated at Stuttgart. He founded a society, to which he gave discourses collected in his first book, Gottesflamme, ’72. His Old and New Faith Among the Jews, ’78, was much attacked by the orthodox Jews. In Women in the Talmud, ’79, he pleaded for mixed marriages. He has also written Jesus as a Jewish Reformer, The Egyptian Religion and Positivism, and Is the Pentateuch by Moses? In ’81 he went to live at Stuttgart, where he has translated Spinoza’s Ethics, and is engaged on a history of Spinozism.
“Sterne (Carus)”; pseud. See [Krause (E)].
Stevens (E. A.), of Chicago, late secretary of American Secular Union, b. 8 June, 1846. Author of God in the State, and contributor to the American Freethought journals.
Stewart (John), commonly called Walking Stewart, b. London before 1750. Was sent out in 1763 as a writer to Madras. He walked through India, Africa, and America. He was a Materialist. Died in London, 20 Feb. 1822.