biography
| name: |
Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1754–1826)
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| biography:
| British soldier and colonial administrator, born in Dublin, Ireland. Educated at Harrow, he fought with distinction in the American War of Independence (1775–81), became active in politics, and in 1813 was made Governor-General of India. Here he warred successfully against the Gurkhas (1814–16) and the Pindaris and Marathas (1817–18), purchased Singapore island (1819), encouraged Indian education and the freedom of the press, reformed the law system, and elevated the civil service. In 1821 he resigned after apparently unfounded charges of corruption had been made against him, and from 1824 till his death off Naples he was Governor of Malta. |
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