Stephanie was born on the planet Meyerdahl on January 7, 1507 PD, the only child of Richard Harrington and his wife Marjorie. She was extremely intelligent, her test scores placing her squarely in the top per mil of the entire human race. Her family originally lived in the city of Hollister on Meyerdahl, but migrated to the Star Kingdom of Manticore aboard the transport ship Madeleine Davenport, arriving on Sphinx in 1517 PD.