Francis Rawdon Hastings Hastings, marquis of, an English soldier, born Dec. 9, 1754, died in the bay of Baja, near Naples, Nov. 28, 1820. He was educated at Oxford, and at the age of 17 entered the army as ensign in a foot regiment. In 1773 he was sent with his regiment to America, and two years later, as captain in the 03d foot, participated in the battle of Bunker hill. In 1778 he was appointed adjutant general of the British forces in North America, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. His good conduct at the battle of Monmouth in the same year procured him the command of a British corps in South Carolina, which he led at the battle of Camden (Aug. 16, 1780), and with which he subsequently defeated Greene at Hobkirk's hill. Returning to England before the close of the war, on account of ill health, he was captured by a French cruiser. Soon after his release he was created Baron Rawdon and honored with several marks of distinction by the king; and in 1793 he succeeded his father as earl of Moira. In the succeeding year he commanded a body of 10,000 men sent to relieve the duke of York in Flanders, which service he successfully performed.

After various other services, he was in 1806 appointed master general of the ordnance in the Grenville and Fox ministry, and after the assassination of Mr. Perceval in 1812 made an unsuccessful attempt to form a cabinet. Shortly after he was appointed governor general of India, where he remained till 1822. The most important event of his administration was the successful termination of the Nepaul war. He was subsequently governor of Malta. In December, 1816, he was created Viscount Loudon, earl of Rawdon, and marquis of Hastings.