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People
Philhellenes (1821-1829)
Frank Abney Hastings (1794-1828)
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Frank Abney Hastings (1794-1828). British Naval Officer. Frank Abney Hastings was one of the most fervent philhellenes and was very active in the later years of the Greek War of Independence. He came to Greece in 1822 and immediately set about persuading the Greeks to increase the battle capability of their fleet. He fought in the Peloponnese {Peloponnisos ~ Πελοπόννησος} and Crete {Kriti ~ Κρήτη}.
He went back to England in 1824 and supervised the construction of the steam battle ship that Greece had ordered. In 1828 he sailed to Nafplion {Ναύπλιον} as Captain of this ship, the "Karteria" [Images], towards which he had contributed a particularly large sum of money.
He subsequently saw action at Faliron {Φάληρον}, at Piraeus {Pireefs ~ Πειραιεύς}, in the Pagasitikos {Παγασητικός} Gulf, at Trikkeri {Τρίκκερι}, at Alexandria in Egypt, and at Mesolongki {Μεσολόγγι}. His successful entrance into the Gulf of Corinth {Korinthos ~ Κόρινθος} is also well known, as is his victory in the Bay of Itea {Ιτέα} where he totally destroyed a squadron of Ottoman ships.
During action at Anatoliko {Ανατολικό} on May 25th, he was wounded in the left arm by a bullet. He died of blood poisoning on Zakinthos {Ζάκυνθος} six days later and was buried on Poros {Πόρος}.
Frank Abney Hastings (1794-1828)
05-11-2004