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Born in Paisley, Soctland in 1823, he moved with his family to Albany in 1831. He apprenticed with a carriagemaker but turned to portaiture by the time he was 18. Hart left Albany soon after 1840 and traveled widely through the US, returning to Albany around 1847. He opened a studio iun New York City in 1854, later moved to Brooklyn where he became the first President of the Brooklyn Academy of Design in 1865. His last years were spend in Mt. Vernon, NY where he died in 1894.William Hart did not have a middle nome unlike his brother the painter James M. Hart. William signed many paintings, letters and other documents as "Wm HART". Some time in the 1930's some started writing his name as William M Hart and various people have used Michael, McDougall and other names but in fact he has no middle name. - Gary Stiles, Phoenixville, PA (catalogue raisonne)