[1] He was son of William Harding, chief clerk in the transport office, and Mary Harrison Ackland, and was born in Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London, on 7 January 1805.
human., his name appearing in the same class list with three other future bishops, Samuel Wilberforce of Oxford, Eden of Moray and Ross, and Trower of Gibraltar.
He was selected by Archbishop Sumner for the see of Bombay, vacated by the resignation of Bishop Thomas Carr, and was consecrated in Lambeth Chapel on 10 August 1851.
His views led him to look coldly on "brotherhoods" and other proposals of the High church party for missionary work in the diocese.
He settled at Ore, near Hastings, holding clerical meetings at his house for clergy of widely different views.