He was born on 24 April 1805, the son of Robert Hastie (1774-1827). The family moved to
Glasgow around 1815. His father was President of the Glasgow Philosophical Society. From 1822 to 1827 he lived and worked in
Canada. He worked for the family firm of R. Hastie & Co, based first at Somerville Place and later at 13 John Street in Glasgow. The company traded with America and the East Indies. In 1837 he joined Glasgow town council as a councillor. At the time of his being Lord Provost in 1846 he lived at 212 Bath Street in the Glasgow city centre. In 1863 he purchased
Luscar House, near
Dunfermline in
Fife. He had an attack of epileptic
seizure at home in Bath Street in January 1864. He died on 13 August 1864 at Luscar House. ==Family==