1V PREFACE. 
The Major Alexander Kyd to whom Colonel Robert Kyd bequeathed the bulk of his 
property was the son of Captain James Kyd, Royal Navy, of Elie in Fifeshire. 
Alexander arrived in Calcutta in 1772 without any appointment, but bringing letters 
to his uncle Thomas Kyd, who was either a first cousin or a cousin once removed 
of Colonel Robert Kyd. Thomas Kyd is described as ‘“‘Commander of a ship of the 
country seryice in the East Indies;” and, when young Alexander Kyd arrived in 
Calcutta, Thomas was absent on a voyage from which he never returned, The lad 
therefore came under the protection of his relative Colonel Robert Kyd, whose letter 
to his (the boy’s) father (happily preserved by a descendant of the family) gives so 
interesting a glimpse into the Anglo-Indian life of these remote days, and so signally | 
illustrates the kind-heartedness of Colonel Kyd, that I print it also as an appendix. 
Alexander Kyd returned to India in 1775 as an Ensign of Engineers. He was a Major 
when his relative Colonel Robert Kyd died, leaving him his heir. Alexander Kyd 
appears also to have been a distinguished and capable officer, who ultimately held 
important posts in the service of the Company. His house was in Kyd Street, and is 
one of those which for many years has been occupied by the United Service Club, He 
passed through all the grades of the Military service until, in 1819, he attained the rank 
of Lieutenant-General, Seven years later (on 25th November 1826) he died in London. 
He was survived by three sons—James, Robert, and Alexander. They were all three 
educated in England, but returned to India early in life. Of Alexander little can 
be discovered, he having left India after a very brief sojourn. James and Robert 
became ship-builders, the former joining Mr. A. Waddell, the Company’s Master Builder ; 
while Robert became the partner of another ship-builder. In 1807 Mr. Waddell retired, 
and James Kyd was appointed Master Builder in his stead. And being shortly after 
jomed by Robert, the two brothers became joint proprietors of the well-known docks 
at Kidderpore. Robert Kyd died in 1825. James survived until 1836, and on his 
decease the dockyard was purchased by Government, and the name of Kyd dis- 
appeared from the list of Indian public servants, James Kyd’s charming house near 
the dockyard, which in later days became the residence of the Superintendent of 
Marine, was pulled down a year or two ago in connection with the formation of 
the new docks; and with that house the last trace of the Kyds disappeared from 
Kaidderpore, 3 
The portrait of Colonel Robert Kya, which forms the frontispiece to this volume, 
is copied from a coloured crayon in the possession of the Agri-Horticultural Society 
of India, which was presented to the Society (I believe by Mr, Blechynden) some 
years ago. In preparing this brief memoir I have had the kind assistance of Major- 
General C. E. Nairne, R.s,, and of the Revd. A, Kyd Nairne, descendants of the Kyd 
family; also of Miss Kathleen Blechynden, in the possession of whose family are 
various . papers - connected with the Kyds, I am also indebted for some of the facts 
