Ralph Darling
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General Sir Ralph Darling, GCH (1775 – Brighton, 2 April 1858) was a British colonial Governor and the seventh Governor of New South Wales (from 19 December 1825 to 22 October 1831).
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[edit] Early career
Darling entered the British Army as an ensign in 1793, and in August 1796 was appointed military secretary to Sir Ralph Abercromby. Having commanded a regiment at the Battle of Corunna, Darling subsequently was promoted to brevet-colonel in 1810, major-general in 1813, and was on the Royal Horse Guards staff in 1815.
From the beginning of 1819 to February 1824, Darling commanded the British troops on Mauritius, before serving as acting-governor of the island for the last three years of his stay, exhibiting administrative ability. It was largely on account of this service that Darling was appointed the seventh Governor of New South Wales in 1825.
[edit] Governor of New South Wales, 1825-1831
Darling initiated the construction, from 1826, of the convict-built Great North Road, linking the Hawkesbury settlements around Sydney with those in the Hunter Valley.
When Darling was commissioned as Governor, the Colony’s western boundary — set in 1788 at 135 degrees east longitude — was extended by 6 degrees west to the 129th meridian. This line of longitude subsequently became the border dividing Western Australia and South Australia. To the south, everything beyond Wilson’s Promontory, the southeastern ‘corner’ of the Australian continent, ceased to be under the control of New South Wales and was placed under the authority of the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land. Proclaimed Van Diemen's Land as a separate government.
[edit] Controversy
During his tenure Darling was accused of tyrannical misrule by, amongst others, newspapers in Australia and England. Allegations included that he ordered the torture of prisoners Joseph Sudds and Patrick Thompson as an example to others, leading to the death of Sudds.
[edit] Later career
Ralph Darling was knighted for his various services in 1835 and received his promotion to general in 1841.
[edit] Family
On 13 October 1817, Darling married Elizabeth Dumaresq (born Macao 10 November 1798, died 3 September 1868). He was older brother of Major-General Henry Darling, father of His Excellency Sir Charles Henry Darling, KCB.
[edit] Named after Ralph Darling
The following features are named for Ralph Darling or members of his immediate family:
- the Darling River
- Darling Harbour
- the Darling Downs
- the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst
[edit] External links
- Darling's Commission as NSW Governor (document scans, discussion)
- Detailed discussion of the Sudds and Thompson case
- Family tree
[edit] Further reading
- Brian H. Fletcher, Ralph Darling: A Governor Maligned, Oxford University Press, 1984. 473pp. ISBN 0-19-554564-8
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| Preceded by: Thomas Brisbane |
Governor of New South Wales 1825–1831 |
Succeeded by: Richard Bourke |
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