On this day Diana, the first steamer ship built in India, was launched in Kolkata. It was constructed by Messrs Kyds & Co. in Kidderpore.
In 1825, it was sent to the Irrawaddy River during the Anglo-Burmese War. Later, it was sent to the Tenasserim region of Burma, after which it returned to Kolkata in 1835 and was broken up.
A second Diana was launched in Kolkata in 1836, built by J. A. Currie & Co. at “Sulkea”. It was used to fight against piracy in the Singapore waters.
The first Diana started off as a pair of 16-horsepower engines brought to Kolkata in June 1822. There was a copper boiler and other requirements for a vessel of about 110 tonnes, fitted with an English oak frame. The government of India was offered the ship for Rs 65,000, but did not accept the offer. A group of merchants bought the ship and replaced the oak frame with teak. This new vessel was launched as the first Diana.
