Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of Hastings: Soldier, Peer of the Realm, Governor-General of India

Paul David Nelson

Jan 2005 · Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press

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Considering the importance of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hasttings and 2nd Eari of Moira, it is surprising that no full-length biography has been written about him. The only significant studies of his career have been analyses of his role as governor-general of India in the early nineteenth century. Paul Davis Nelson's study rectifies this situation by providing a well-crafted scholarly analysis of the life of Lord Hastings. He covers in depth all aspects of the man's multi-faceted career as a professional soldier, peer in the House of Lords, and governor-general of India. He also provides a character study of this intelligent, affable man, pointing out his strengths as a father, husband, and friend. In the process, Nelson does not lose sight of Hastings's personal weaknesses, particularly his financial ineptitude. He shows how the marquess ran up debts of nearly [pound]1,000,000 by the time of his death and left his family almost penniless.