HMS Hastings (1819)

For other ships with the same name, see Hastings (East Indiaman) and HMS Hastings.

HMS Hastings was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built in Calcutta for the Honourable East India Company, but the Royal Navy purchased her in 1819. The Navy sold her in 1886.

The Hastings, lying in Ordinary in the Medway, December 1829
History
United Kingdom
Name	Hastings
Namesake	Warren Hastings
Builder	Kyd & Co, Kidderpore[1]
Launched	8 January 1818[2]
Fate	Sold to British Admiralty 1819
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Hastings
Acquired	22 June 1819, from British East India Company
Fate	Sold, 1886
General characteristics [3]
Class & type	74-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1732,[4] or 1763 (bm)
Length	176 ft 10+1⁄2 in (53.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam	48 ft 6 in (14.8 m)
Depth of hold	21 ft (6.4 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounder guns QD: 4 × 12-pounder guns + 10 × 32-pounder carronades Fc: 2 × 12-pounder guns + 2 × 32-pounder carronades

Figurehead from HMS Hastings^{[Note 1]}

East India Company

Hastings was built of the highest quality "saul", "sissoo", "Pegue", and "Java" teak wood, following Sir Robert Seppings's principles, which resulted in a vessel both longitudinal and transverse support. Her construction cost sicca rupees (Sa.Rs.) 8,71,406 (£108,938), which the merchants of Calcutta and other patriotic individuals subscribed via shares.^[4] The full cost of getting her ready for sea was Sa.Rs. 8,71,406 (£116,375).^[6]

Captain John Hayes sailed Hastings from Calcutta on 28 March 1818. She reached Madras on 13 April, and Port Louis on 2 July. From there she reached St Helena on 15 September, and arrived at The Downs on 3 November.^[1]

HMS Hastings

The arrival of the Dowager Queen Adelaide aboard HMS Hastings at the Grand Harbour, Valletta, 1838, painted by Anton Schranz

The Admiralty purchased Hastings on 22 June 1819. It paid about half of what the vessel had cost the shareholders in Calcutta that had subscribed to her construction. The belief in Calcutta was that the jealousy of the Thames shipbuilders led to the undervaluation of the ship.^[4]

Quebec, with the arrival of HMS Hastings conveying the Earl Of Durnham Governor General of Canada, May 1838, by Capt. Digby B. Morton

In 1838 the ship took the new governor, Lord John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, to Canada. The ship arrived in Quebec on 27 May 1838.^{[7][self-published source]}

Destruction of Chui A-poo's Pirate Fleet, 30 September 1849

Sailors and marines from Hastings fought Chinese pirates at the Battle of Tonkin River in 20–22 October 1849.

In 1855 she was fitted with screw propulsion.^[3] In 1857 the ship was deployed to Liverpool on coastal defence duties before being transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve to be used as a training ship.^[5]

Fate

Hastings was sold out of the navy in 1886 .^[3]

Notes

1. The Ship's figurehead is now on display at the Merseyside Maritime Museum.^[5]