HARDING, CHESTER (1792-1866), American portrait painter, was born at Conway, Mass., on Sept. 1, 1792. Brought up in the wilderness of New York State, Harding, as a lad of splendid physique, standing over 6ft. 3in., marched as a drummer with the militia to the St. Lawrence in 1813. He became subse quently chairmaker, peddler, innkeeper, and house-painter, paint ing signs in Pittsburgh, Pa., and eventually going on the road, self-taught, as an itinerant portrait painter. He made enough money to take him to the schools at the Philadelphia Academy of Design, and he soon became proficient enough to gain a compe tency, so that later he went to England and set up a studio in London. There he met with great success, painting royalty and the nobility, and, despite the lack of education in boyhood, and social experience, he became a favourite in all circles. Returning to the United States, he settled in Boston and painted portraits of many of the prominent men and women of his time. He died on April 1, 1866.