John Zachariah Kiernander

Johann "John" Zachariah Kiernander
Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge Missionary
In office 29 September 1758 – 1787
Personal details
Born	(1710-12-01)1 December 1710 Östergötland, Sweden
Died	10 May 1799(1799-05-10) (aged 88) Calcutta, India
Spouse(s)	?, ?, Ann Wolley
Children	Robert William Kiernander
Alma mater	Franckesche Stiftungen

John Zachariah Kiernander (1 December 1710–10 May 1799), also known as Johann Zacharias Kiernander, was a Swedish Lutheran missionary in British India.[1][2]

Beth-Tephillah Church founded 1770 by John Zachariah Kiernander, later the Old Mission Church, Calcutta

He was the first Protestant Missionary to establish a base in Bengal. He built the Old Mission Church in Calcutta[3] and founded one of the first printing presses in Calcutta. In 1781, he accused James Augustus Hicky, the editor and publisher of Hicky's Bengal Gazette of libel and won the trial. He was the author of The Trial and Conviction of James Augustus Hicky.

Notes

1. Edward Cave; John Nichols (1824). The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. Edw. Cave. pp. 105–10.
2. "Kiernander » Kiernander's Church". Retrieved 12 July 2023.
3. "The Old Mission Church in Kolkata is worth a visit for its great historical past". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 12 July 2023.