Stephen MacKenna

Stephen MacKenna (15 January 1872 – 8 March 1934) was an Irish journalist, linguist, and writer. He is best known for his English translation of the Greek philosopher Plotinus, which introduced Neoplatonic philosophy to a new generation. MacKenna's prose style was highly regarded and influenced many of his contemporaries, including W. B. Yeats, W. B. Stanford, and J. M. Synge. Born in Liverpool, England to an Irish father and an Anglo-Irish mother, MacKenna grew up with seven brothers and two sisters. He received his education at Ratcliffe in Leicestershire, where he first developed his knowledge of Classical Greek. MacKenna's literary talents were evident from a young age.