A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hastings, George Fowler
HASTINGS. (Captain, 1845. f-p., 18; h-p., 5.)
The Honourable George Fowler Hastings, born 28 Nov. 1813, is second son (by Frances, third daughter of the Rev. Rich. Chaloner Cobb, Rector of Great Marlow, co. Bucks) of Hans Francis, 11th Earl of Huntingdon, a Captain in the R.N. (1824), who was for some time Governor of Dominica, and died 9 Dec. 1828. He is brother of the present Earl; and brother-in-law of Commanders Henry Parker and Chas. Calmady Dent, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy 3 Sept. 1824; passed his examination 7 Jan. 1832; and was promoted, 7 Jan. 1833, to the rank of Lieutenant. His appointments in the latter capacity were – 25 June, 1833, to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Thos. Hastings – 13 May, 1834, to the Revenge 74, commanded in the Mediterranean by Capt. Wm. Elliott – and, 8 Sept. 1837, as First, to the Rhadamanthus steam-vessel, Capt. Arthur Wakefield, on the same station. Obtaining a second promotal commission 30 June, 1838, he was nominated, 5 Jan. 1839, to an Inspectorship in the Coast Guard, and, 16 Aug. 1841, to the command of the Harlequin 16. While in that sloop, Capt. Hastings, besides sharing in the closing operations of the Chinese war, acquired the public thanks of the Commander-in-Chief for his conduct in leading her boats, in conjunction with those of the Wanderer and Diana, in an attack on the piratical towns of Murdoo and Quallo Batto, in the island of Sumatra. He was promoted to the rank of Captain, on the paying off of the Harlequin, 31 Jan. 1845; and has since been unemployed. Agents – Coplands and Burnett.