Heinrich Von Stephan was born on 7th January 1831 in Pomerania. After his schooling, he entered the Prussian postal service  at  the  age  of  17.  He  quickly passed through the various rungs of   his chosen  profession   and  soon  found  himself at Cologne, the metropolis of the Rhine provinces and the focus of postal services between Germany, Western Europe and transmarine  countries.   From   Cologne   to the highest postal administrative body in Prussia in Berlin  was  the  next  step.  In 1870, when the position of General Post Director (the head of the postal administration  in  Germany)  fell  vacant, Von Stephan  was  chosen  to fill the post on the strength  of  his wide-ranging reputation and  outstanding abilities.

After  the  Franco-German  War,  Von Stephan set himself  to achieve the greatest task of his life, the setting up of the Universal Postal Union. As far back as 1869 the Government of North German Federation had entered into negotiations with the French Government for summoning a postal congress to discuss uniformity of postal relations among European states and the formation  of  a  general  postal  union. It was not until 1 July 1873 that the German Government was able to lay the draft of a general postal convention prepared by Stephan before the Governments of Europe and at 'Washington. On 15  September 1874 the Congress, with representatives of 22 states of both hemispheres, met in the old historic building  of  the  National Senate in Berne (Switzerland). The Congress appointed Von Stephan the Chairman of the Commission set up to examine the draft conventions. Due to his  initiative, diplomatic skill and intimate knowledge of postal matters, the General Postal Convention was signed within  a  short period of 24 days on 9 October 1874 and the 'General Postal Union' came into existence.

Stephan now devoted his life to the extension of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) as it came to be known later. His sole consideration was the unity of UPU. He used his eloquence, the warmth of his conviction and the force of his arguments to settle the disputes and to push, into background insignificant objections and secondary matters. He passed away on 8 April 1897.

Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative postage stamp in his honour.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India