HASTINGS, WARREN, first Gover ernor-general of India; born in Dayles ford, Worcestershire, in 1732. He was educated at Westminster School, and in 1750 he set out for Bengal in the capac ity of a writer in the service of the East India Company. When stationed at Cos simbazar he was taken prisoner by Surajah Dowlah on the capture of the place (1756). Having made his escape, he served as a volunteer under Clive in 1757. He was representative of the com pany at Moorshedabad from 1758 to 1761. In the latter year he removed to Calcutta, having obtained a seat in the Bengal Council, but returned to England in 1764. As he lost the bulk of his means by unfortunate Indian invest ments, he again entered the company's service, and sailed for India in 1769. In consequence of the misgovernment of the Nabob of Bengal the company had de prived him of all real power, and now wished to have the country more directly under their control. Warren Hastings was its chief instrument in this under taking, and in 1772 became president of the Supreme Council of Calcutta. His administration during the succeeding twelve years aroused much criticism in England, and a motion for his recall was passed by the House of Commons. Fox's
India Bill was thrown out in 1783, but next year Pitt's bill, establishing the board of control, passed, and Hastings resigned. He left India in 1785, and was impeached by Burke in 1786, being charged with acts of injustice and op pression, with maladministration, receiv ing of bribes, etc. This celebrated trial, in which Burke, Fox, and Sheridan thun dered against him, began in 1788, and terminated in 1795 with his acquittal, but cost him his fortune. The company in 1796 settled on him an annuity of $20,000 a year, and lent him $250,000 for 18 years free of interest. He died in 1818.
HAT, the principal head covering of the human family, distinguished from the cap or bonnet by having a brim around it. The hat, as a roomy brimmed head-covering, is the direct descendant of the petasus of the ancient Greeks, which was distinguished from the other Greek head-gear, the pileus, by the posses sion of a brim, useful for protecting its wearer from the rays of the sun.