STEVENS, Thomas, bicyclist, born in Great Berk-hamstead, Herts, England, 24 December, 1855. He was educated at the village school of his native place, and completed his course in 1869. Subsequently he came to the United States, and became an enthusiastic bicyclist. He conceived the idea of making a tour around the world on his wheel, and, starting from San Francisco on 22 April, 1884, made his way across the continent of America, thence to England, and through Europe to Constantinople, where he crossed to Asia. His progress through several countries in Asia was prohibited by their governments, and at times his advance was very difficult, owing to the hostility of the natives, but ultimately persevering, he reached Japan, whence he went by steamer to San Francisco, landing on 24 December, 1886. His experiences were given in a series of letters to a magazine which he has since collected in book-form as "Around the World on a Bicycle" (2 vols., New York, 1887-'8).