Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st marquess of

Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st marquess of (hā`stĭngz), 1754–1826, British soldier and administrator. He fought with distinction against the colonists in the American Revolution. Created (1783) Baron Rawdon and then succeeding (1793) his father as earl of Moira, he played an active role in the House of Lords and was a partisan of the prince of Wales (later George IV). As governor-general of Bengal (1813–22), he successfully waged war on the Gurkhas of Nepal (1814–16), the marauding Pindaris, and the Marathas, meanwhile maintaining a vigorous and progressive government. He was rewarded (1817) for his services with the title marquess of Hastings. He was governor of Malta when he died.