FRANCIS RAWDON-HASTINGS

FRANCIS RAWDON-HASTINGS, MARQUIS OF HASTINGS, EARL OF MOIRA, (1754-1826) was son of the Earl of Moira who became Governor-General of India 1813-23, in which period fell the Goorkha War, for the successful
negotiations subsequent on which he was created Marquis of Hastings.

Entering the army in 1771, he saw active service in the American War of Independence and in Holland and created Baron Rawdon in 1783. He succeeded his father in the earldom of Moira in 1793. When he was in 1813 appointed to the Governor-Generalship of India, he became instrumental in extending the Company's territories and pacifying the warlike Goorkhas, for which, in 1816, he was created Marquis of Hastings.

He entered political life under Fox. His administration encouraged native education and freedom of the press. From
1824 he was Governor of Malta till his death at Naples.