A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Harding, John
HARDING. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 23; h-p., 19.)
John Harding entered the Navy, 19 Dec. 1805, on board the Foudroyant 80, Capt. John Chambers White, in which ship, until Nov. 1812, he continued, chiefly as Midshipman, to serve, on the Home, Lisbon, and Brazilian stations, under the successive flags of Admirals Sir John Borlase Warren, Albemarle Bertie, Sir Wm. Sidney Smith, and Hon. Michael De Courcy. Returning then to England he joined the Daedalus 38, Capt. Murray Maxwell, under whom, on eventually arriving in the East Indies, he was wrecked, off the island of Ceylon, 2 July, 1813. In consequence of that catastrophe he was received on board the Minden 74, bearing the flag of Sir Sam. Hood, in which ship he remained until Sept. 1814, when he became Acting-Lieutenant of the Hecate 18, Capt. John Allen. Being confirmed, 11 Feb. 1815, into the Sphynx 10, Mr. Harding, during a continuance of a few months in that vessel, and prior to the arrival of the proper Captain, the Hon. Arthur Turnour, appears to have discharged the duties of sole commander. He was subsequently appointed – 7 Jan. 1824 and 5 March, 1825 to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, and Hyperion 42, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Wm. Jas. Mingaye – 21 April, 1832, to the Royal Charlotte yacht, Capt. Edw. Galwey, lying at Dublin – 29 Sept. 1832 and 5 Sept. 1835, to the San Josef 110, and Royal Adelaide 104, flag-ships at Plymouth of Sir Manley Dixon and Sir Wm. Hargood – 14 Dec. 1842 (after seven years of half-pay), to the command of the Columbia steam surveying-vessel, employed, until the close of 1844, on the North American station – 4 April, 1845, to the Cyclops steam-frigate, Capt. Wm. Fred. Lapidge, on the S.E. coast of America – and, 1 Dec. 1845, to the Crocodile 8, Capt. Gower Lowe. With the exception of the Columbia, Mr. Harding was attached as an Additional-Lieutenant to all the above ships, and was employed the whole time on surveying service. Since his promotion to the rank of Commander, which took place 9 Nov. 1846, he has been on half-pay.