Francis Rawdon
BIRTH
Dec 9, 1754
County Down, Ireland
DEATH
November 28, 1826
at sea near Naples, Italy
FAMILY
FATHER:
John Rawdon, 1st Earl of Moira
(1720-1793)
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Rawdon, Francis
(1754-1826)
Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings, styled The Honourable Francis Rawdon from birth until 1762, Lord Rawdon between 1762 and 1783, The Lord Rawdon from 1783 to 1793 and The Earl of Moira between 1793 and 1816, was an Anglo-Irish politician and military officer who served as Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823. He had also served with British forces for years during the American Revolutionary War and in 1794 during the War of the First Coalition.
3
WIFE
Flora Mure-Campbell, Marchioness of Hastings
(1780-1840)
Lady Sophia Rawdon-Hastings
Lady Flora Hastings
(1806-1839)
Lady Adelaide Augusta Lavinia Rawdon-Hastings
George Rawdon-Hastings, 2nd Marquess of Hastings
(1808-1844)
George Hunn Nobbs
(1799-1884)
Lady Selina Constance Rawdon-Hastings
(1810-1867)
Places | Image | Address | GPS | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bunker Hill Monument | 43 Monument Sq, Charlestown, MA 02129 | PARK | ||
Boston Common | 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111 | PARK | ||
Battle of Hobkirk Hill Marker | 1991 Lyttleton Street, Camden, South Carolina, 29020, USA | MARKER |
DIED:
at sea near Naples, Italy
Nov 28, 1826
Hastings was born at Moira, County Down, the son of John Rawdon, 1st Earl of Moira and Elizabeth Hastings, 13th Baroness Hastings, who was a daughter of the 9th Earl of Huntingdon. He was baptised at St. Audoen's Church, Dublin, on 2 January 1755. He grew up in Moira and in Dublin. He joined the British Army on 7 August 1771 as an ensign in the 15th Foot (the going rate for purchasing a commission for this rank was £200). From that time on his life was spent entirely in the service of his country. He was at Harrow School and matriculated at University College, Oxford, but dropped out. He became friends there with Banastre Tarleton.
Rawdon was posted at Boston as a lieutenant in the 5th Regiment of Foot's Grenadier company, which was then under the command of Captain Francis Marsden. He first saw action at the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Serving with the grenadiers, he participated in the second assault against Breed's Hill (which failed), and the third assault against the redoubt. His superior, Captain Harris, was wounded beside him.
At the age of 21, Lord Rawdon took command of the company for the third and final assault. When the troops of the third assault began to falter, Rawdon stood atop of the American redoubt, waving the British ensign. John Burgoyne noted in dispatches: "Lord Rawdon has this day stamped his fame for life." He also was wounded during the assault. He was promoted captain, and given a company in the 63rd Foot.
He went south to the Siege of Charleston with reinforcements. After the city fell to the British, Lord Cornwallis posted him at Camden (16 August 1780) as the British sought to occupy South Carolina. Rawdon commanded the British left wing at the Battle of Camden. When Cornwallis went into Virginia, he left Rawdon in effective command in the South.