A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hastings, Thomas
HASTINGS, Kt. (Captain, 1830. f-p., 32; h-p., 12.)
Sir Thomas Hastings, born 3 July, 1790, is eldest son of the Rev. Jas. Hastings, Rector and Impropriator of the living of Martley, and Patron of Areley Regis, co. Worcester. His family, of which the celebrated Warren Hastings was the head, is a branch of that of Hastings of Dalesford, in the latter shire, and of Yelford Hastings, co. Oxford.
This officer entered the Navy, in Sept. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Princess Royal 98, commanded in the Channel by Capts. Jas. Vashon, Herbert Sawyer, Dan. Oliver Guion, and Robt. Carthew Reynolds; and, from Oct. 1804 until Sept. 1807, served, as Midshipman, on the latter and on the north coast of Spain, Cadiz, and West India stations, in the Illustrious 74, Capts. Sir Chas. Hamilton, Michael Seymour, Wm. Shield, and Wm. Robt. Broughton. His name, during the two following years, was successively borne on the books of the Salvador del Mundo, Capt. Isaac Wolley, lying at Plymouth, Texel and Ardent 64’s, flagships at Leith of his former Captain, the late Admiral Vashon, and Leyden 64, Capt. Thos. Ussher. As a reward for his conduct in command of a gunboat at the siege of Flushing, Mr. Hastings was promoted, 17 Jan. 1810, to a Lieutenancy in the Badger 10, Capt. John Lampen Manley, under whom we understand he assisted, as First of that vessel, in causing the destruction, off the river Ems, of the French privateer La Comtesse d’Emerieau of 11 guns and 110 men. His succeeding appointments were – 7 June, 1811, to the Hyacinth 26, Capts. Thos. Ussher and Alex. Renton Sharpe – 7 April, 1813, to the Undaunted 38, Capts. Thos. Ussher and Chas. Thurlow Smith, in which frigate he continued until Nov. 1815 – 28 June 1817, to the Icarus 10, Capt. Hon. Chas. Orlando Bridgeman, fitting for the South American station, whence he invalided in Jan. 1819 – and 27 Oct. 1821, as Senior, to the Euryalus frigate, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford, attached to the force in the Mediterranean. On the night of 29 April, 1812, we find Mr. Hastings commanding the Hyacinth’s pinnace, under Capt. Ussher, and acquiring the greatest praise for his undaunted courage, in a brilliant boat-attack on the enemy’s privateers and batteries in the mole of Malaga; an enterprise which, although partially successful, terminated in a loss to the British, out of 149 officers and men, of 15 killed and 53 wounded. He also, in the course of the following month, assisted at the reduction of the strong castle of Almuñécar; and, on 18 Aug. 1813, he served in the boats of the Undaunted and of a small squadron in a very gallant attack made on the batteries at Cassis, where, after sustaining a loss of 4 men killed and 16 wounded, the British, in four hours, succeeded in capturing three heavy gun-boats, and 26 vessels laden with merchandise On 9 Nov. 1813 he was again in the boats at the taking of a vigorously-defended tower at Port Nouvelle, and the destruction of 7 French vessels lying there under the protection of several batteries; after which, in April, 1814, he participated, as First-Lieutenant, in the honour of conveying Napoleon Buonaparte from Frejus to Elba. On the latter occasion, and when within four or five miles of the harbour of Porto Ferrajo, Mr. Hastings went on shore with the foreign ministers, as one of the commissioners for taking possession of the island, and making the proper arrangements for the reception of its future sovereign. During the war of a Hundred Days this officer further presents himself to our notice by his conspicuous exertions in the Undaunted’s boats in preventing supplies from being thrown into Ancona; in destroying different armed towers; in capturing a Neapolitan flotilla, consisting of two schooners and nine gun-boats, protected by the fortress of Barletta; and in erecting, with wonderful celerity, a battery on the island of Tremiti, in the Adriatic, which his prompt and skilful measures soon forced to surrender. When subsequently in the Euryalus, Mr. Hastings was employed at the blockade of Algiers, preparatory to the concessions made by the Dey to Sir Harry Burrard Neale in 1824. On 9 May, 1825, having earned a reputation for merit of a very high order, he was at length advanced to the rank of Commander; and on 4 Nov. 1828 he was appointed to the Ferret sloop; in which vessel he appears to have been again employed for a period of 10 weeks off Algiers, with the view of observing and reporting to the British Government the proceedings of the French in their preparations for the attack and capture of that place; a delicate and important service, of which he acquitted himself to the high satisfaction of his Commander-in-Chief, Sir Pulteney Malcolm. Capt. Hastings, who continued in the Ferret until posted, 22 July, 1830, afterwards, from 13 April, 1832, until Aug. 1845, commanded the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, where, during the last six years, he simultaneously discharged the duties of Captain Superintendent of the Royal Naval College.
In compliment to the professional and scientific attainments of Capt. Hastings, the honour of Knighthood was, at the request of the Admiralty, conferred on him 5 June, 1839. On leaving the Excellent he was appointed Storekeeper to the Ordnance; and he is also a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for co. Hereford. He married, 12 May, 1827, Louisa Elizabeth, sister of the Dean of Exeter, and daughter of Thos. Humphrey Lowe, Esq., of Bromsgrove, by Lucy, eldest daughter and co-heir of Thos. Hill, Esq., of Court of Hill, co. Salop, M.P. for Leominster. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.