General Sir Ralph Darling, Governor NSW (1825–1831).

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). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (572x869, 59 KB) Summary General Ralph Darling, Governor of New South Wales 1825-1831 Licensing This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (572x869, 59 KB) Summary General Ralph Darling, Governor of New South Wales 1825-1831 Licensing This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of... A General is an officer of high military rank. ... The Royal Guelphic Order was a British order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent (later George IV). ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Brighton is located on the south coast of England and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton & Hove. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... List of Governors of New South Wales See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor. ... December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1825 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

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. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Ensign is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the militaries of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. ... Sir Ralph Abercromby (sometimes spelled Abercrombie) (October 7, 1734–March 28, 1801) was a British lieutenant-general noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars. ... The Battle of La Coruña took place on January 16, 1809, between 14,000 British under Sir John Moore, and 16,000 French under Marshal Soult, who was endeavouring to prevent the British from evacuating by sea from the port. ... The Royal Horse Guards (RHG) was a Household Cavalry regiment of the British Army. ...

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. List of Governors of New South Wales See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor. ...

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. The Great North Road in Australia refers to a 264 km road from Sydney to the Hunter Valley that was constructed between 1825 and 1836 using convict labor. ... The City of Hawkesbury (formerly Hawkesbury Shire) is a Local Government Area of New South Wales, Australia, partly of which is at the fringe of the Sydney metroplitan area, about 50 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district. ... Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia with a metropolitan area population of over 4. ... The Hunter Valley is a region of New South Wales, approximately 160 kilometers north of Sydney, Australia with an approximate population of 700,000 people, most of which live in the Newcastle Metro area including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland city councils. ...

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. On the earth, a meridian is a north-south line between the North Pole and the South Pole. ... Emblems: Floral - Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii); Mammal - Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus); Bird - Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) Motto: none Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Const. ... Emblems: Hairy Nosed Wombat (faunal); Leafy Seadragon (marine); Piping Shrike (bird: unofficial); Sturts Desert Pea (floral); Opal (gemstone) Motto: United for the Common Wealth Slogan or Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Const. ... Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ... Van Diemens Land was the original name used by Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. ...

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.

Later career

Ralph Darling was knighted for his various services in 1835 and received his promotion to general in 1841.

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. October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Major-General Sir Henry Charles Darling KCB (Uppingham, 28 February 1780 – 11 February 1845). ... Sir Charles Henry Darling (February 19, 1809 – 1870) colonial governor born Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia and died Cheltenham, England. ...

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

Bold textInsert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text It is very important to us and the environment. ... Darling Harbour is a large recreational pedestrian precinct situated on the western edge of central Sydney, Australia. ... The Darling Downs is a farming region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, Australia. ... Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia with a metropolitan area population of over 4. ... Darlinghurst is an inner eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia. ...

External links

• Darling's Commission as NSW Governor (document scans, discussion)
• Detailed discussion of the Sudds and Thompson case
• Family tree

Further reading

• Brian H. Fletcher, Ralph Darling: A Governor Maligned, Oxford University Press, 1984. 473pp. ISBN 0-19-554564-8