Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, Second Earl of Moira became British Governor General of India in 1813. He served as 46th Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1806-07 and Acting Grand Master to H.R.H. George, Prince of Wales 1790-1813. Upon leaving to become Governor General, the Grand Lodge also appointed him Acting Grand Master of India. He set sail for his new post and along the way made port on the small island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar. There, at the request of the citizens of Port Louis, who had learned of his credentials, he laid the cornerstone of the town's new Catholic Cathedral, which is still in use.
