Francis Rawdon Hastings (1754–1862), Earl of Moira (later Marquess of Hastings), c.1804

Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings, a soldier-politician who served as Governor-General of India, appears in this 1804 portrait at the National Army Museum. As Earl of Moira, Hastings had fought in the American Revolution before entering British politics, and his later Indian governorship saw the decisive defeat of the Maratha Confederacy and the Pindari War. The 1804 date places the portrait before his Indian career, when he was a leading Whig politician and friend of the Prince of Wales.

Shee presents Hastings in military dress, reflecting the soldier"s identity that preceded his political and imperial careers. The portrait shows confident handling of the early Regency military uniform, with the sash and medals providing color accents against dark clothing. The face conveys the commanding presence of a man who would go on to govern the largest British territory in the world.