Hadden was born at Aberdeen, Scotland on October 13, 1773 and on September 22, 1778, he was "admitted an infant Guildburgess of Aberdeen." He was the son of Elspet Hadden and Alexander Hadden, Bailie of Aberdeen, and merchant with Alexander Hadden & Sons. His elder brother was James Hadden, Provost of Persley. His maternal grandparents were Rachel Young and James Young, merchant-burgess of Aberdeen.
Career
Hadden apprenticed with a cloth manufacturer in Leeds in Yorkshire before setting up his own business there. He departed Liverpool for New York, aboard the New Guide, on September 23, 1806, arriving nearly two months later on November 18, 1806. After arriving in New York, he established the merchant house known as David Hadden & Sons on Pine Street in Lower Manhattan. The firm, which was later called Hadden & Co., was extremely successful and imported raw silks and mattings. In 1845, his wealth was estimated at $200,000. After his death, his descendants kept the firm going. Hadden served as Senior Warden of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church and was member of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York, serving as president, twice, from 1832 to 1835 and, again, from 1837 to 1840.
Personal life
On May 16, 1809, Hadden was married to Ann Aspinwall at Flushing on Long Island. Ann was the daughter of fellow merchant William Smith Aspinwall and Mary Apsinwall. Together, they lived at 20 Lafayette Place in New York City, the most exclusive location in the city at the time, and were the parents of eleven children:
Isabella Hadden, who married Charles Tomes, brother of Robert Tomes.
William Alexander Hadden, who married Frances Sanderson Smith, daughter of James Elnathan Smith, in 1849.
Mary Aspinwall Hadden, who lived at 18 East 33rd Street in New York.
Sarah Platt Hadden, who died unmarried.
Margaret Frances Hadden, who died unmarried in Florence, Italy.
Anna Hadden, who also lived at 18 East 33rd Street in New York.
John Aspinwall Hadden, who married Frances "Fanny" Mactier, daughter of Alexander Mactier, in 1855.
Eleanor Hadden, who married Francis Tomes Jr., also a brother of Robert Tomes.
Elizabeth Farquhar Hadden, who lived at 18 East 33rd Street and died unmarried.
His wife died on September 3, 1845 and was buried at St. Thomas' Church. Hadden died at his residence in New York City on June 3, 1856. After a funeral at St. Thomas Church conducted by the Rev. Francis L. Hawks, he was buried in a vault at Trinity Church Cemetery.
