Journalist, soldier, traveller and lecturer Joachim Hayward Stocqueler was born on this day in London. He had spent a decade in Calcutta, leaving his mark on the city. His life wasas full of adventure asturbulence.

He spent a few years in Bombay (now Mumbai) as a young man, working as a journalist, travelled in Asia and Europe for a while, and returned to India, to Calcutta this time, in 1833. He founded in the city the newspaper Englishman. With Dwarkanath Tagore’s support, he purchased the newspaper John Bull, “a moribund paper in a very rickety condition”, according to an 1898 account, “and he wisely killed it and founded on its remains the new paper, which has had such a long, prosperous, and honourable career.”

Stocqueler also published Bengal Sporting Magazine (1833-1845) and East India United Services Journal. He played a significant role in the establishment of Calcutta Public Library in 1836.

He was a part of the cultural life of the city and was involved with the Sans Souci theatre.

Stocqueler reported on the First Anglo-Afghan War. Back in Calcutta, facing financial hardship, he spent a few months in the Debtors’ Prison. He sold Englishman and left the city in 1843, to return to London and eventually landed in the US, where he lectured at colleges and was military adviser, among other things.

For suggestions on dates/events mail us at:yesterdate@abp.in