A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hastings, Francis Decimus
HASTINGS. (Captain, 1840. f-p., 19; h-p., 21.)
Francis Decimus Hastings entered the Navy, 19 Aug. 1807, as Third-cl. Vol., on board the Téméraire 98, Capts. Sir Chas. Hamilton and Edw. Sneyd Clay, successively stationed in the Channel and Baltic. In June, 1809, having attained the rating of Midshipman a few months previously, he removed to the Amethyst 36, Capt. Jacob Walton, with whom he appears to have been employed on Home service until wrecked in Plymouth Sound 16 Feb. 1811. He then joined, for a short period, the Acasta 40, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr; after which we find him, until Aug. 1815, employed, on the Spanish, North American, Jamaica, and Home stations, latterly as Master’s Mate, in the Iris 38, Capt. Hood Hanway Christian, St. Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, Emulous brig, Capt. Wm. M‘Kenzie Godfrey, and Argo 44, and Ville de Paris 110, bearing the flags of Rear-Admiral Wm. Brown and Lord Keith. With the exception of a few months in 1818-19, and until officially promoted on 18 Nov. in the latter year, Mr. Hastings next served, alternately as Acting-Lieutenant and Admiralty Midshipman, on board the Charwell sloop, Capt. Allen Otty, Icarus 10, Capt. Hon. Chas. Orlando Bridgeman, and Carnation 18, Capts. Henry Shiffner, Wm. Nugent Glascock, and Roger Hall. His succeeding appointments were, as First-Lieutenant – 14 April, 1831, to the Stag 46, Capts. Sir Edw. Thos. Troubridge and Nich. Lockyer, on the Lisbon station, where he remained until superseded in Aug. 1834 – and 31 Jan. 1835, to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Thos. Hastings. Being awarded a second promotal commission 10 Jan. 1837, he was nominated, 25 July following, Second-Captain of the Edinburgh 72, Capt. Wm. Wilmott Henderson, with whom, after again serving with the force off Lisbon, he proceeded to the Mediterranean. For his conduct in the operations on the coast of Syria, where he displayed the greatest coolness and gallantry in command of the boats of the latter ship and of the Hastings 72, in an attempt made to remove the powder from the castle at Beyrout, and was slightly wounded at the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre, Capt. Hastings was advanced to the rank he now holds 4 Nov. 1840.[1] He has since been unemployed.
Capt. Hastings was left a widower 31 July, 1846.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1840, pp. 2609, 2901.