George Fowler Hastings

Vice-Admiral George Fowler Hastings CB (28 November 1814 – 21 March 1876) was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service during the First Opium War and the Crimean War. In a naval career spanning over 50 years, Hastings saw service across the British Empire, and rose to the rank of vice-admiral. His service as commander in chief on the Pacific Station of the Royal Navy at Esquimalt on the British Columbia Coast of what is now Canada is today commemorated in the names of several locations and geographic features.

Family and early life Hastings was born on 28 November 1814, the second son of Hans Hastings, 12th Earl of Huntingdon, and his first wife Frances. His father had a naval career, and George followed him into the navy in either August or September 1824. After several years service as a midshipman Hastings was rated as mate on 5 September 1832, In the match, Hastings scored 5 runs in Hampshire's first innings before being bowled out. In Hampshire's second innings he was dismissed for a duck.

Command

Hastings was promoted to commander on 30 June 1838, and was appointed to the Coastguard in January 1839. Sophia on 11 August 1849 and Apollo on 29 October 1949 (the last two in consort with ) Pilot on 10 January 1850, Ventura on 27 January 1850 (both with ), Sociedade on 17 June 1850, and an unnamed "slave brigantine" on 20 November 1850; as the chief duty of the West Africa Squadron was the suppression of the slave trade, presumably those ship were all slave ships. Hastings received £67 15 shillings and 11½ pence as his share from the Bom Successo, £398 18 shillings for Esperanca, £91 4 shillings 5¼ pence for Sophia and £106 19 shillings 10 pence for Apollo, £128 6 shillings 10 pence for Pilot, £250 11 shillings 11 pence for Ventura, £85 16 shillings 10 pence for Sociedade, and £333 2 shillings 10 pence for the unnamed brigantine; a total of nearly £1500, worth around £ today.

An appointment to the steam frigate followed, and Hastings served aboard her for operations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea during the Crimean War. While serving in the Crimea Hastings distinguished himself at the Battle of Eupatoria in February 1855, and was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 8 March 1855, and honourably mentioned by Omar Pasha. and was also awarded the third class of the Medjidie, an award he was authorised to accept on 3 April 1858.

He remained aboard Curacoa until May 1857. He briefly commanded at Weymouth (a guardship for the coast guard service) before being appointed (November 1857) commander of the Portsmouth guardship. He became superintendent of Haslar Hospital and the Royal Clarence victualling yard in January 1858, holding the post until his promotion to rear-admiral on 27 April 1863. His next assignment was in November 1866, when he became commander-in-chief in the Pacific, with the broadside ironclad as his flagship. and returned to Britain in November that year. A second ceremony was held the following day at the bride's home town of Saint-Omer. The fjord Hastings Arm on the North Coast of British Columbia was named after him, as was the nearby Mount Fowler.

Their daughter, Frances Alice Hastings (26 July 1870 – 3 February 1945), married Gordon George William Henry (1868–1947), on 4 November 1895.