James Kyd
Born1786
Died26 October 1836
NationalityBritish Indian
OccupationShip builder

James Kyd (1786 – 26 October 1836) was a Master ship builder of the East India Company in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, India.

Life

James Kyd was born in 1786 in India to Major Alexander Kyd, a lieutenant general and the Surveyor General of Bengal and his brother is Robert Kyd, a British Army officer. Kyd went to Great Britain to learn shipbuilding and returned to India in 1800 to work as an apprentice to A. Wadell. He succeeded Wadell in 1807 to become the Master ship builder of the East India Company in Calcutta (now, Kolkata).[1] Kyd built various steamers and yachts for the Bengal government and other countries for personal and trading purposes. A collection of few are given below:

Year Name Comment Ref(s)
1808 Phoenix Yacht, 187 tons, sold to the government [2]
1811 Maitland 634 tons, sold for free trade [2]
1812 Castle Huntly 1276 tons, built for China [3]
1813 General Kyd 1279 tons
1814 Lord Hungerford 685 tons [1]
1815 East Indian (1815 ship) 553 tons, was lost in 1826 at Saugor Sand
1816 Mary Ann 587 tons

In 1814, the Admiralty and Court of Directors sent honors and appreciative testimonial to Kyd for the repair work done to HMS Semiramis at St. Helena.[1] Most of the ships were launched from the Kidderpore docks.

He died on 26 October 1836 due to a knee injury, and was interred at the Scotch Burial Ground.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Buckland, Charles Edward (1968). Dictionary of Indian Biography. Haskell House. p. 241. ISBN 9780838302774.
  2. ^ a b Phipps, John. (1840). A collection of papers relative to Ship Building in India : With descriptions of the various Indian Woods employed Therein, their qualities uses and value : Also a register, comphrehending all the ships and vessels built in India to the present time : With many other particulars respecting India Shippingand the external commerce of Bengal. Scott and Co. p. 103. OCLC 903682640.
  3. ^ Phipps, John. (1840). A collection of papers relative to Ship Building in India : With descriptions of the various Indian Woods employed Therein, their qualities uses and value : Also a register, comprehending all the ships and vessels built in India to the present time : With many other particulars respecting India Shipping and the external commerce of Bengal. Scott and Co. p. 104. OCLC 903682640.
  4. ^ "Bengal Hurkaru". 27 October 1836.
  5. ^ "James Kyd". readinggamesplayingbooks.com. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
Categories