Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Chard, George William
CHARD, GEORGE WILLIAM (1765?–1849), organist, was born in 1764 or 1765. He was educated in the choir of St. Paul's under Hudson, and in 1787 was appointed a lay clerk of Winchester Cathedral, where he also acted as assistant organist to Peter Fussel. On the death of the latter Chard was (August 1802). appointed organist of the cathedral. In 1812 he took the degree of Mus. Doc. at Cambridge, his name being entered at St. Catherine's. In 1832 he became organist of Winchester College, which post he continued to fill, in addition to that at the cathedral, until his death, which took place on 23 May 1849, at the age of 84. His wife Amelia and one child survived him, but the former died 16 March 1850,and is buried with her husband in the cloisters of Winchester College. Chard wrote a little unimportant music. One of his earliest compositions was a setting of a song from ‘Pizarro,’ which the title-page states was originally designed for Mrs. Jordan. It is dedicated to Mrs. Sheridan.
[Chapter Records of Winchester Cathedral; Rom11ly's Graduati Cantabrigienses; Grove's Dictionary of Music, i.; sepulchral brass]