In a naval career spanning over 50 years Hastings saw service across the British Empire, and rose to the rank of vice-admiral.

His service as commander in chief on the Pacific Station of the Royal Navy at Esquimalt on the British Columbia Coast of what is now Canada is today commemorated in the names of several locations and geographic features.

[a] After several years service as a midshipman Hastings was rated as mate on 5 September 1832,[2] and promoted to lieutenant on 7 January 1833, followed by an appointment to the navy's gunnery training ship at Portsmouth, HMS Excellent.

[1] He was appointed to the 16-gun brig-sloop HMS Harlequin in August 1841 and sent to the China Station in time to take part in the last actions of the First Opium War then being fought.

[16] An appointment to the steam frigate HMS Curacoa followed, and Hastings served aboard her for operations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea during the Crimean War.^ While serving in the Crimea Hastings distinguished himself at the Battle of Eupatoria in February 1855, and was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 8 March 1855,[2][17] and honourably mentioned by Omar Pasha.

[21] He became superintendent of Haslar Hospital and the Royal Clarence victualling yard in January 1858, holding the post until his promotion to rear-admiral on 27 April 1863.

[26] Their daughter, Frances Alice Hastings (26 July 1870 – 3 February 1945), married Gordon George William Henry (1868–1947), on 4 November 1895.

^ The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography describes him as entering the navy in September 1824, while parliamentary papers from 1863 give an entry date of 14 August 1824.