Francis Rawdon-Hastings Marguess of Hastings

Considering the importance of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings and 2nd Earl of Moira, it is surprising that no full-length biography has been written about him. The only significant studies of his career have been analysis of his role as governor-general of India in the early nineteenth century. Paul David 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 multifaceted 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 ineptitude. He shows how the marquess ran up debts of nearly 1,000,000 by the time of his death and left his family almost penniless.