Capt David Lester Richardson (1801–1865) was a professor of English at Hindu College. He inspired the Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta.[1]
He later became principal of Hindu College and Hindu Metropolitan College.
Shibnath Shastri wrote:
| “ | He was so effective and powerful as a teacher that his students came to believe firmly that there was no poet equal to Shakespeare and that English literature was best in the world. | ” |
Richardson was an active Freemason, belonging to Lodge of Industry and Perseverance № 126 in Calcutta. He is remembered for authoring one of the most beloved poems in Masonic culture, the Tyler's Toast, which is generally given at the conclusion of Masonic dinners.