Ralph Darling
Sir Ralph Darling | |
|---|---|
| 7th Governor of New South Wales | |
| In office 19 December 1825 – 21 October 1831 | |
| Monarchs | George IV William IV |
| Preceded by | Thomas Brisbane |
| Succeeded by | Richard Bourke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1772 Ireland |
| Died | 2 April 1858 (aged 85–86) Brighton, England |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | British troops on Mauritius 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Fédon's Rebellion Battle of Corunna Walcheren Campaign |
| Awards | Knight Bachelor Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order |
General Sir Ralph Darling, GCH (1772 – 2 April 1858) was a British Army officer who served as Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831. His period of governorship was unpopular, with Darling being broadly regarded as a tyrant. He introduced austere policies that resulted in croneyism, prisoner abuse, curtailment of press freedoms, discrimination against emancipists, obstruction of representative government, theatrical entertainment bans and injustices toward Indigenous Australians.
During his time as Governor, a significant area of eastern Australia was explored by the British with local geographical features being named after him including the Darling River and the Darling Downs, along with Darling Harbour in Sydney.