Based on Hastings County, it fronted on the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario and extended north.

Those boundaries had originally been set by a proclamation of the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe, in 1792: The boundaries had been further defined by a statute of Upper Canada in 1798: In 1821, the townships of Elzever, Madoc and Marmora were added to Hastings County.

The next year, Baldwin and his political partner from Canada East, Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine both became members of the Executive Council, which was a significant step in the development of responsible government.

The by-election for Hastings was held in November, 1842 and became a significant battle between the Reform group and the Tories.

[11] It was succeeded by electoral districts of the same name in the House of Commons of Canada[12] and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

[13] This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Proclamation, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, July 16, 1792 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: An act for the better division of this province, SUC 1798, c. 5, s. XX..