William F. Gardner was a minister for the Episcopal Church. The letter was found in a book owned by Louisa Gerhard du Pont (1816-1900), but it is presumed the letter is from William F. Gardner (1840-1907).

Gardner was born October 27, 1840 in Alexandria, Virginia to William Collins Gardner (1790-1844) and Elizabeth Frances Cazenove (1798-1857). He graduated from Episcopal High School in 1857.

When the Civil War began, Gardner entered the 17th Regiment of Virginia Volunteer Infantry as a private. In a year, he was a Second Lieutenant and acting Adjutant. He was severly wounded at Second Manassas and rendered unfit for field service. Gardner was ordained an Episcopal Deacon, resigned from the 17th, and volunteered with the 24th Virginia as Chaplain.

Soon after the war ended, Gardner became an Episcopal minister and turned his attention to his former school. The Episcopal High School was in Union control throughout the war and used as a hospital, and the chapel a morgue. By the end of the war, it was in shambles. Gardner took up the task at his own expense and began again with eighteen boys.

In 1870, Gardner left the school to become Rector at Trinity Church in Dorsey, Maryland, where he lived the rest of his life. He died there on December 22, 1907.