HASTINGS, WILLIAM, BARON (c. 143o-1483), a son of Sir Leonard Hastings (d. 1455), was master of the Mint ; and chamberlain of the royal household under Edward IV. Created a baron in 1461, he married Catherine, daughter of Richard Neville, earl of Salisbury. He was faithful to Edward IV. during the king's exile in the winter of 147o-1471. After his return he fought for him at Barnet and at Tewkesbury; he has been accused of taking part in the murder of Henry VI.'s son, prince Edward, after the latter battle. He was made captain of Calais in 1471, and was with Edward IV. when he met Louis XI. of France at Picquigny in 1475, on which occasion he received gifts from Louis and from Charles the Bold of Burgundy. After Edward IV.'s death Hastings refused to ally himself with Richard, duke of Gloucester, afterwards King Richard III. During a meeting of the council on June 13, 1483 he was seized and at once put to death. This dramatic incident is related by Sir Thomas More in his History of Richard and has been worked by Shake speare into his play Richard III.