John Clark Marshman

John Clark Marshman (18 August 1794 – 8 July 1877) was an English journalist and historian. He was editor and publisher of the Calcutta-based Friend of India, and was involved with several other Indian publications. Early life Marshman was the first child of Joshua Marshman and Hannah Marshman and was born on 18 August 1794 at Bristol, England where his father was at that time a schoolmaster, before later emigrating to India as a missionary. Move to India At the age of 5, Marshman travelled with his parents and William Ward on an American ship called the Criterion to Bengal, arriving in Serampore on Sunday morning, 13 October 1799. In May 1800, his parents opened two boarding schools in Serampore; these became the most popular in the area and Marshman received his education from his parents. He was part of the growing mission family, eating at the communal table and joining with other children in Mission life; as one would expect he became a fluent Bengali speaker.