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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Warren Hastings Biography HASTINGS, Warren, first Governor-general of British India, born in Churchill, England, Dec. 6, 1732; died Aug. 22, 1818. He was left an orphan at an early age, attended the Westminster school, and when seventeen entered the service of the East India Company as writer. From 1758 to 1761 he represented the company at Moorshedabad. In the latter year he was removed to Calcutta and three years later returned to England. In 1769 he re-entered the service of the company and was stationed at Madras, but in 1772 was made president of the council at Bengal. The regulating act passed by parliament in 1773 modified the power of the company and Hastings became governor-general, being associated in the government by a council of five. His policy was opposed by a majority of the council, which led to financial and internal difficulties, and he resigned in 1776. The following year he again accepted the office and displayed much administrative and reformatory ability. Complications arising with several native forces of the Deccan and Mysore, he displayed severity in procuring the necessary funds to conduct defensive movements. which gave rise to opposition in the house of commons and resulted in his resignation in 1784. Soon after he was called before parliament on charges of bribery and misappropriation of funds, but was acquitted after spending his fortune in the defense. The trial became celebrated on account of the active interest taken by such eloquent speakers as Fox, Burke, and Sheridan. who opposed him with all their force of oratory, unmindful that Hastings had established English dominion in India, though, perhaps, making some mistakes. His acquittal was announced in 1795 and the East India Company settled an annuity of $20,000 on him the following year, and extended to him a loan of $250,000 without interest for a term of eighteen years. After this he lived in retirement at Daylesford. The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopædia, Vol. II (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 803-804. |