John DARLING

DARLING, JOHN (SENIOR) (b. Edinburgh Scotland, 23 Feb 1831, d. Adelaide, SA, 10 Apr 1905). Baptist merchant and parliamentarian.

After leaving school in Edinburgh at the age of 11 on the death of his father, Darling was apprenticed as a founder and remained in this trade until 1854. Married on 31 Dec 1850 to Isabella (née Ferguson), he migrated to Adelaide in 1855 with his wife and two sons John and Joseph. He gained employment in a general store and then a bakery and after a failed business venture he progressed to become a manager of a wheat and grain store. In 1867 Darling became owner of the wheat and grain store he had managed and formed a partnership with his son John in 1872 to form John Darling and Son. The firm quickly expanded, acquiring farms and flour mills and exporting grain to eastern Australia. He also began shipping wheat to Europe and North America and became known as the 'Grain King' of Australia. John Darling and Son became the largest exporter of grain from Australia.

Darling was a deacon of the Hindmarsh Sq Congregational Church before becoming a Baptist and a member at the Flinders St Baptist Church in 1865. He served there as Sunday school superintendent. Apart from a few years when he lived in Melbourne, Darling remained in membership at Flinders St and was a consistent and at times generous giver to the funds of the SA Baptist Association as well as various charities and mission organisations.

A moderate protectionist throughout his life, Darling served in the House of Assembly of the SA parliament 1870-71, 1876-81, 1885-7, and MLC 1888-97, and was Commissioner of Public Works in the Downer government for four months in 1885. Darling was survived by his wife and four children including John who developed the family business interests and Joseph who captained Australia in cricket.

ADB 4; R Walker, 'Congregationalism in South Australia 1837-1900', Proc RGSA SA 69 (1967-68): 1328; Southern Baptist (1905): 100

JOHN WALKER