James Hastie

Family/Spouse: Mary (?) Hastie. Mary was born in 1805 in Balsimore, Kent, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lavina Eleanora McArthur Hastie was born on 3 Apr 1849 in Mile End, London, Middlesex, England; died in C1930.

Notes:

James Hastie proved himself to be a great man. his parents were members of the Society of Friends. He was born in Cork in 1786 and recieved from his early years the most rigorous religous education. The restraints of religion, however, and the peculiar manners of this respectfull society with which his parents wished him to associate, proved uncongenial to his taste and although checked by his conscience and force of early impressions, he enterd with ardour into the gaieties and pleasures of worldly society.
In persuance of his youthfull inclinations, Hastie was induced to enter the army. He joined the 56th Regiment and spent several years in India, where he served during the Mahratts War.He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and gained the esteem of all his officers. In 1815 Hastie arrived in Mauritius and soon after came to the notice of Governor Farquhar for his extraordinary daring and courage, risking his life in saving Government House from being destroyed by fire.
Only a man with great physical strength could have achieved such meritorious service. His Excellency recommended him to the British Government for a Commission in the Army. In the meantime he wasappointed protector to two Malagasy princes who had arrived back at Mauritas for instruction and later accompanied them back to Madagascar. In 1820 James Hastie was appointed British Agent to the Court of King Radama of Madagascar. After a very short time, Hastie gained the complete confidence of Radama. Few men could have given greater service to Madagascar and to England. The greatest of course was securing a treaty with Radama, suppressing the slave traffic and so closing one of the greatest slave markets in the world. Hastie introduced plants, seeds and farm implements. He raised a huge army on the European model and was greatly responsible in helping establish the Protestant Mission in Madagascar.
James Hastie died at Tananaviro, 18th October 1826, leaving a widow and a twelve month old son. The King, Royal Family, Judges, the principal people and a vast concourse of Malagasy attended the funeral. A minute gum was fired as a public mark of honour.