James Kyd

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). 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 1811 634 tons, sold for free trade 1813 General Kyd 1279 tons 1814 685 tons