25 Facts About Theodore Stephanides

Theodore Philip Stephanides was a Greek-British doctor and polymath, best remembered as the friend and mentor of Gerald Durrell.

Theodore Stephanides was known as a naturalist, biologist, astronomer, poet, writer and translator.

Theodore Stephanides was portrayed in a number of books, including My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, Prospero's Cell by Lawrence Durrell, The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller as well as in several movies and TV productions, and has four biological species named after him.

Theodore Philip Stephanides was born on 21 January 1896 in Bombay, British India, to Philip Stephanides, a native of Thessaly, Ottoman Empire, and Caterina Ralli, of Greek descent, born and educated in London.

Theodore Stephanides' father worked for a company that belonged to Ralli Brothers, a British family of Greek origin, while Theodore Stephanides' mother was part of that family.

Theodore Stephanides spent his early years in Bombay, and since his family only spoke English at home, it was his first language.

In 1907, as Theodore Stephanides' father retired, the family moved first to Marseilles, France, and shortly afterwards to Rallis' estate in Corfu.

Theodore Stephanides would speak Greek with a strong British accent.

Theodore Stephanides often acted as a liaison with British and French units, owing to his knowledge of English and French.

Theodore Stephanides would continue making astronomical observations until the end of his life.

In 1930, Theodore Stephanides married Mary Alexander, the granddaughter of a former British consul in Corfu.

Alexia was a close friend of Gerald Durrell in Corfu, and Theodore Stephanides hoped that the two would marry one day, but the outbreak of World War II ruined these plans.

Theodore Stephanides quickly developed a close friendship with two of the Durrell brothers, Lawrence and Gerald, who would remain his lifelong friends.

At the outbreak of World War II, Theodore Stephanides had to leave Corfu again and would only return there on rare occasions.

In May 1941, Theodore Stephanides was in Crete with the Allied forces during the German invasion.

In 1946, Theodore Stephanides published Climax in Crete, an eyewitness account of the Battle of Crete.

Theodore Stephanides' parents were killed in Corfu during the 1943 German bombing of the island, while his wife Mary and daughter Alexia had moved to England in 1939 and stayed safe until the end of the war, living with the Durrells in Bournemouth for some time.

Shortly after the end of World War II, Theodore Stephanides retired from the British Army and reunited with his family in London.

Theodore Stephanides mentioned that while Stephanides' books, scientific collections and most of his notes were destroyed during World War II in air attacks on Corfu town, A Survey was saved by good fortune.

In July 1967, Theodore Stephanides came to Corfu, helping Gerald Durrell and Christopher Parsons complete the BBC travel documentary The Garden of the Gods.

In 1973, Theodore Stephanides published Island Trails, a half-fictional account of Corfu and other Ionian Islands, basically a collection of Greek folklore collected by him over the years.

On 15 February 1983, Theodore Stephanides appeared as a "very special surprise guest" in the UK TV programme This is Your Life with Gerald Durrell as the "subject".

Theodore Stephanides died peacefully in his sleep on 13 April 1983 in the Kilburn district of London.

Theodore Stephanides has four biological species named after him: Cytherois stephanidesi, Thermocyclops stephanidesi, Schizopera stephanidesi and Arctodiaptomus stephanidesi, which are microscopic freshwater crustaceans discovered by various researchers in the 1930s.

On 25 May 2011, a plaque in honor of Theodore Stephanides was unveiled in Corfu town on the building where he had his laboratory and consulting rooms in the 1930s.