Mark Bernard Hardin was born on August 14, 1838 in Alexandria, Va. He was the son of Lauresten B. and Anna Hardin. An 1858 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Hardin accepted a teaching position with the Institute and taught there until hostilities broke out between the North and South. He joined the Thirty-third Virginia Regiment as major and along with Stonewall Jackson's Brigade fought in the First Battle of Manassas (First Battle of Bull Run). In June 1862, Hardin was appointed major of artillery and assigned duty as commander of the Eighteenth Virginia Battalion. He continued to fight for the Confederacy until the end of the war. Returning to the Virginia Military Institute, Hardin accepted the position of full professor of chemistry and held the position from 1867-1890. In October of 1890, Hardin was appointed as Professor of Chemistry and Chief Chemist for the Experiment Station at Clemson College. During his time at Clemson, Hardin spent time as director of the Chemical Department as well as acting president and president pro tem of Clemson College in 1897, 1899, and 1902. In 1910, Hardin resigned due to poor health. On July 12, 1910, the Clemson Board of Trustees elected him Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. Major Mark Bernard Hardin died on April 26, 1916 at Clemson College. He is buried along with his wife at the Old Stone Church cemetery in Clemson, S.C.