In 1868 Queen Victoria decided to present the duchy records to the nation, and incorporate them with the public archives.
In 1878, on the death of his brother, Sir George Jessel offered him the post of deputy-keeper, which he held for eight years.
[1] Hardy was placed on the Historical Manuscripts Commission on 12 July 1878, and knighted at Osborne House on 31 December 1883.
During his time of office as deputy-keeper he drew up a scheme for reorganising the department, which was carried into effect.
[1] In 1840 he married at Lewisham Church, Kent, Eliza Caroline Seymour Lee, daughter of Captain J. E. Lee, by whom he left two sons,[1] the younger being William John Hardy,[3] father of William Le Hardy, making three generations of archivists.