Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hastings, Charles

by George Thomas Bettany

HASTINGS, Sir CHARLES (1794–1866), founder of the British Medical Association, sixth son of James Hastings, rector of Martley, Worcestershire, was born at Ludlow on 11 Jan. 1794; studied under two surgeons at Stourport, and at the age of eighteen, without a legal qualification, and after only a few months' study in London, was elected house-surgeon to the Worcester county infirmary. He made numerous experiments on the nervous system under the direction of Dr. Wilson Philip, one of the physicians to the infirmary. In 1815 he entered at Edinburgh University, and continued to work at experimental physiology and microscopy, being the only student at that time who used the microscope in medical research. He graduated M.D. in 1818, and was at once appointed physician to the Worcester infirmary, and for many years was the leading practitioner in Worcestershire. With the view of raising the tone of provincial medical practice, he founded in 1828 the ‘Midland Medical and Surgical Reporter,’ to which he contributed largely during its four years' existence. In 1832 it was abandoned in favour of a project for forming a provincial medical association for the advancement of medical science and the medical profession. A meeting of medical men was held at the Worcester infirmary on 19 July 1832, when the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association was formed, and Hastings delivered an inaugural address. For many years Hastings was the secretary and leading spirit of the association, skilfully guiding it through stormy waters. In 1840 the ‘Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal’ was established, and in 1843 it was adopted as the organ of the association. In 1856 the title ‘British’ was substituted for ‘Provincial,’ owing to the growth of the association, and Hastings was appointed permanent president of the council and treasurer. He was knighted in 1850. He was deeply interested in sanitary questions, and was president of the public health section of the Social Science Association at the York meeting. He wrote on the geology and natural history of Worcestershire, especially of the Malvern Hills, and largely developed the Worcester Museum. He died on 30 July 1866.

Hastings married in 1825 the eldest daughter of George Woodyatt, M.D., of Worcester, by whom he left an only son, G. W. Hastings, M.P. for East Worcestershire since 1880, and two daughters. On 9 Aug. 1882 a marble bust of Hastings, by Brock, was presented to the city of Worcester, and placed in the public library. A Hastings medal and prize are annually awarded in honour of his memory by the British Medical Association.

Hastings wrote:

1. ‘A Treatise on Inflammation of the Mucous Membrane of the Lungs; to which is prefixed an Experimental Inquiry respecting the Contractile Power of the Blood Vessels and the Nature of Inflammation,’ 1820.
2. ‘Illustrations of the Natural History of Worcestershire,’ 1834, besides many memoirs in medical journals and addresses on various occasions.

[Lancet, 1851 ii. 185–8 (with a portrait), 1866 ii. 139; British Medical Journal, 1866 ii. 128, 1882 ii. 323.]

G. T. B.