On this day Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st marquess of Hastings, took office as Governor-General of Bengal. He was born in Ireland. Before coming to India, he had served in the American Revolution, for which he was given an English peerage. He also fought in France. When he landed in Calcutta as Governor-General and commander-in-chief of the Indian forces, the coffers were empty. But he got a loan from Lucknow.
He defeated the Gurkhas, for which he was made marquess of Hastings in 1817. He defeated the Marathas, extending British rule over a vast Indian territory. He suppressed pirate activities on the Indian coasts and supervised the purchase of Singapore.
He helped to bring clean Yamuna water into Delhi, was encouraging towards education in Bengal and raising the status of Indian judges. But he left India under a cloud when he was charged with favouritism towards a bank. Later, however, his family was compensated financially for the charges made against him.
