Carl Hard

1768-1840.

Major General.

Carl Hård was born on Jällsta farm in Viksta parish and became a lieutenant in the Uppland regiment at the age of 20. He took part in the Finnish War of 1788-1790 and distinguished himself in the first battle of Svensksund in 1789. The following year Hård took part in the naval battle of Hamina, a battle commanded by Gustav III.

As a major, Hård took part in the siege of Stralsund in 1807, the siege of Liers Skans in Norway in 1808 and the defense of Sävar and Ratan in 1809. At the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, he commanded the regiment as lieutenant colonel and was later appointed colonel of the army. He then took part in the march to Brussels and the campaign to Norway.

Carl Hård became a major general in 1822 and retired in 1835. In addition to his military career, Hård was an art collector and during his last years he lived in Uppsala near Fyrisån (later Ofvandalska gården). In Uppsala he spent time in the academic circles around Geijer and Atterbom.

Hård's art collection, consisting of around one hundred oil paintings, was later donated to Uppsala University. The donation laid the foundation for the Uppsala University Art Museum.

Burial site: 0103-0177

Image description: Portrait of Carl Hård painted by J.G. Sandberg. Photo: National Archives / Swedish Biographical Dictionary. [The image is cropped]
Click here for an uncropped image