Joachim Hayward Stocqueler

J. H. Stocqueler (21 July 1801 - 14 March 1886) was a journalist, government employee, entrepreneur, and inventor in England, India, and the United States of America.

Biography

Joachim Hayward Stocqueler was born 21 July 1801 in Abchurch Lane, City of London and baptized 25 August 1801 at the Portuguese Embassy Chapel in London. His father was Joachim Christian Stocqueler, son of the opera singer Giovanna Sestini. His mother was Elizabeth Hayward, daughter of Francis Hayward, physician of Hackney.

He was educated at Brochard's academy in Camden. After occasional jobs in a bank and with a traveling theater company, he had army training at Chatham and then sailed for Bombay in 1819.

Stocqueler purchased his discharge from the army in 1824, made a visit to England and returned to Bombay in 1827. He was involved with newspaper publishing and the founding of the Bombay Public Library. Financial embarrassment led to his 15 month overland journey, during 1831 and 1832, from Bombay back to England via Khuzistan and Persia.

Stocqueler returned to India in 1833, arriving in Calcutta where he soon purchased the newspaper John Bull. He changed its name to The Englishman and, as its editor, gave it a liberal focus. Stocqueler also edited the Bengal Sporting Magazine and East India United Services Journal. In 1836, the Calcutta Public Library was established at his suggestion. Later, he was closely involved with the Sans Souci theater.

Financial problems landed Stocqueler in the Debtors Prison in Calcutta from October 1840 until February 1841. Following the sale of The Englishman he left India on the Hindostan in 1843. After some time in Egypt, he sailed on The Oriental to Malta, and later on a French steamer to Naples, then overland to London.

Stocqueler was a prolific writer, making use of his experiences of the military and his travels. He wrote for the theater including the text for successful spectacles such as The Battle of The Alma and The Fall of Sebastopol, both elaborately staged at Astley's Amphitheatre in south London. He was a charismatic lecturer and provided the commentary for dioramas at the Gallery of Illustration in Regent Street: subjects included the Overland Route to Australia and the ongoing story of the Crimean War. Stocqueler also lectured in many provincial cities. He edited the United Services Gazette for several years.

Despite his varied occupations and help from his mother’s family, Stocqueler was frequently in financial difficulties, facing bankruptcy on several occasions. He ran away from the insolvency court in Maidstone, Kent and escaped, under the name of Siddons, to New York, with his then wife and children. After some five years in North America he returned to London for about ten years.

At intervals from 1860 to his death, Stocqueler used the surname Siddons, mainly in the United States of America and, at times in Britain, claiming that he was the illegitimate son of George Siddons, son of Sarah Siddons the actress.

He died on 14 March 1886 in Washington, D.C., USA, not 1885 in Bath, England, as is sometimes stated.

Family Life

Stocqueler married, firstly, Jane Spencer in Bombay in 1828; their son Edwin Roper Loftus Stocqueler was born in the following year. Following a separation, Stocqueler's wife and son departed for the Victorian gold fields in Australia. Edwin, an artist, was present on the Bendigo gold fields during the mid-1850s, where he painted several scenes of the diggings. Jane Stocqueler died in Bombay in 1870, and Edwin in London in 1895.

Joachim Hayward married, secondly, Eliza Wilson Pepper in 1844 who bore him four children, two of whom survived. Stocqueler also fathered three children, between 1852 and 1857, by Mrs Louise Wardroper; these children were all surnamed Stocqueler Wardroper.

When first in the United States Stocqueler was divorced from his wife Eliza. He returned to England with the American, Mary Agnes Cameron, nearly forty years his junior. She bore him three children, variously known as Stocqueler or Siddons, after which they were married in London in 1870, when he was almost 69. In 1875, the family settled in the United States. The most famous of the three children was Frederick Lincoln Siddons, who later became a United States federal judge, and is remembered inter alia for his part in the Teapot Dome scandal.

Writings

Authored

• Fifteen Months Pilgrimage through Untrodden Tracts in Khuzistan and Persia... in the Years 1831 and 1832. 2 vols London: Saunders & Orley, 1832.
• The Wellington Manual, being a compilation from the dispatches of ... the Duke of Wellington, embracing his sentiments on various points relating to military discipline and administration, &c. Calcutta: W. Rushton & Co., 1840.
• Memorials of Affghanistan... between the Years 1838 and 1842. Calcutta: 1843.
• Lucretia Borgia, a romance of history. London: William Barth, 1844
• The Handbook of India, A guide to the Stranger and the Traveller, and a Companion to the Resident. London: W.H. Allen, 1844.
• The Oriental Interpreter and Treasury of East India Knowledge : companion to The Handbook of British India. London: C. Cox, 1848.
• Maid Marian: the Forest Queen. London: 1849. Originally serialized in 31 parts.
• A Catechism of Field Fortifications. London: United Service Gazette Press, 1850
• The Overland Companion: being a guide for the traveller to India via Egypt. London: Wm. H. Allen & Co., 1850.
• The British Officer, His Position, Duties and Emoluments and Privileges. London: 1851.
• The Victory must be won. Song: Words by J H Stocqueler. Music composed by Miss Harriet Georgina Willoughby. London: T. E. Purday, 1852
• The Old Field Officer; or, the military and sporting adventures of Major Worthington. Edinburgh: 1853
• The Military Encyclopædia; A Technical, Biographical, and Historical Dictionary, referring exclusively to the Military Sciences, the Memoirs of Distinguished Soldiers, and the Narratives of Remarkable Battles. London: Wm. H. Allen & Co., 1853.
• India: its history, climate, productions, and field sports; with notices of European life and manners, and of the various travelling routes. London: G. Routledge and Co., 1853.
• The Life of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington. Two volumes. London: Ingram, Cooke, and Company, 1853; Philadelphia: 1855.
• The British Soldier: an anecdotal history of the British Army from its earliest formation to the present time. London: 1856
• The True Causes of the Revolt of the Bengal army. London: Charles Evans, 1858
• A Familiar History of British India, from the earliest period to the transfer of the government of India to the British crown in 1858. London: Darton, 1859.
• The War in Italy, and all about it. London: Henry Lea, 1859.
• Norton’s Hand-book to Europe: or, How to Travel in the Old World. By J H Siddons (J H Stocqueler). New York: Charles B Norton, 1860
• The Canadian Volunteers' hand-book : a compendium of military facts and suggestions adapted to field service. By J H Siddons (J H Stocqueler). Toronto: Rollo & Adam, 1863.
• The Emigrant's Friend; a true guide to the emigrant proceeding to New York, Boston, Philadelphia or the Canadas. Liverpool: W. Gilling, 1864.
• Yankeeland in her Trouble: An Englishman's Correspondence during the War. By J H Siddons (J H Stocqueler). Pamphlet (no publisher), 1864.
• A Familiar History of the United States of America from the date of the earliest settlements down to the present time. London: Darton & Hodge, 1865.
• A Familiar History of the British army, from the Restoration in 1660 to the Present Time. London: Stanford, 1871.
• A Personal History of The Horse-Guards from 1750 to 1872. London: 1873.
• The Memoirs of a Journalist. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1873.
• A Review of the Life and Labours of Dr. G.W. Leitner, (reprinted from The Oriental). Brighton: Tower Press, 1875
• The Rajahate of Saràwak. Brighton: Tower Press, 1875
• Utterance and Expression: a few words on the importance of high art reading and effective speaking. New York: Sheldon & Co., 1876.
• The Language and Literature of Shakespeare. By J H Siddons (J H Stocqueler). Washington: Gibson brothers, printers, 1884.
• The Shakespearian Referee. By J H Siddons (J H Stocqueler). Washington: W.H. Lowdermilk & Co., 1886

Minor Plays

• Polkamania: an apropos bagatelle in one act. 1844
• The Three Fra Diavolos. 1844
• A Good Name. 1845
• An Object of Interest. 1845
• The Seven Champions of Christendom. 1845
• Robin Hood and Richard Coeur de Lion. 1846
• The Marble Maiden. 1846
• Crusoe the Second. 1847
• Emigration, the Remedy. 1848
• The Fortress. 1848
• The Provisional Government. 1848
• Any Port in a Storm. 1853
• The Butterfly’s Ball. 1855
• Dead Heart. (as J.H. Siddons). 1860

Productions at Astley’s Amphitheatre and Elsewhere

• The Sikh Invasion. 1846
• The Camp of Silesia; or the Gypsy Queen. 1847
• The Revolt of the Harem. 1848
• The Battle of the Alma. 1854
• The Fall of Sebastopol. 1855
• England and France in the Days of Chivalry. 1855
• The Bombardment and Capture of Canton. 1858
• La Belle France and the Maid of Orleans. 1868

Edited

Books

• The Army and Militia Almanac.
• Memoirs and Correspondence of Major-General Sir William Nott. 1854 Two Volumes.
• The Old Field Officer, or the Military and Sporting Adventures of Major Worthington. 1853, Two Volumes.

Newspapers)

Bombay (1822–1830)
     * Iris
     * Bombay Chronicle (formerly The Argus)
     * Bombay Sporting Magazine
     * Bombay Racing Calendar
Calcutta (1833–1842)
     * The Englishman
     * The Oriental Observer
     * The Bengal Sporting Magazine
     * The Indian Racing Calendar for 1836-37
     *The East Indian United Service Journal and Military Magazine
London (1843–1859; 1865–1875)
     * The English Gentleman
     * Pictorial Times
     * The Court Journal
     * United Service Gazette (military section)
     * The Oriental

Co-authored or Revised

• Long, J. and Stocqueler, J.H., British Social Life in Ancient Calcutta: 1750 to 1850 Thankappan Nair, Calcutta
• Nott, Sir W and Stocqueler, J.H., Memoirs and Correspondence of Major-General Sir William Nott. Volumes 1 & 2, London: Hurst and Blackett, 1854.
• Walshe, A and Stocqueler, J. H., Catechism and Hand Book on Regimental Standing Orders ... London, 1855.