GEN. CHARLES W. DARLING
Gen. Charles W. Darling was born in New Haven, Conn., October 11; 1830. His family is of New England origin, having intermarried with the families of Pierpont, Noyes, Chauncey, Ely, Davis, and Dana. His great-grandfather, a graduate of Yale, was Hon. Thomas Darling, an eminent jurist of New Haven, Conn., who married Abigail Noyes, granddaughter of Rev. James Pierpont, of New Haven, one of the founders of Yale College. The paternal grandfather of Gen. Charles W. was Dr. Samuel Darling, of the same city, a graduate of Yale who married Clarinda, daughter of Rev. Richard Ely, of Saybrook, Conn. His youngest son, the father of General Darling, was Rev. Charles Chauncey Darling, who was graduated from Yale College and Princeton Theological Seminary, and having entered the ministry subsequently made his residence in New York. He married Adeline E., daughter of William Dana, of Boston, and granddaughter of Major Robert Davis, an officer of artillery in the Revolution.
The boyhood of General Darling was devoted largely to study, under the guidance of a private tutor. After matriculating at the classical and mathematical department of the New York University, he passed through its regular curriculum, and subsequently received the honorary degree of A. M. from Hamilton College. He entered as clerk a mercantile house in New York city, and several years later he became connected as secretary with an incorporated company under the presidency of Commodore C. K. Garrison. Shortly afterward, he resigned his position to accept the presidency of a manufacturing company, with which he was associated for several years. When he ceased his immediate relations with business, he made his first trip to Europe, to gratify those literary and artistic tastes which his active life had forbidden. Returning from his Continental tour, when the question of the possible secession of the South from the Federal Union was receiving much public discussion, he connected himself with the National Guard of New York, and, when Hon. Edwin D. Morgan was elected governor, he was appointed a member of his staff with rank of colonel. He also identified himself with political matters, and was president of one of the Republican organizations of his district. By his decision of character he united many discordant elements in the party, subdued the passions of some, deepened the love of country in the hearts of others, and preserved order frequently under difficult circumstances. When in the summer of 1863 New York became the scene of riots, General Darling was called upon to perform difficult and dangerous duties, and his firm stand on that memorable occasion received the most cordial approbation of the military as well as the civil authorities.
Early in 1864 Colonel Darling received the appointment of additional volunteer aid-de-camp on the staff of Maj.Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, then in command of the Army or the James, and was assigned special duties at his temporary headquarters in New York. At this time the draft was to be enforced. As it was known that the authorities had made every preparation, and 16,000 men under arms were afloat in the harbor, no attempt was made to resist the enforcement of the law. When Hon. Reuben E. Fenton was elected governor of the State in 1865 Colonel Darling was recommended for the position of head of one of the military departments. His qualifications for the important trust were supported by recommendations from Major-Generals Butler, Doubleday and Warren; Brigadier-Generals Van Vliet, Webb, Davies, Morris, Gordon, and Granger; and twenty-one commandants of regiments and batteries in the field. A large number of in politicians also joined in the request, among whom were the mayor of New York, the collector and surveyor of the port, the postmaster, the chairman of the Union Central Committee, and several members of Congress. This powerful influence had its effect, and Colonel Darling, in view of his past business training and his reputation for order and integrity, was assigned to duty in the paymaster general's department, which at this critical period was of the first importance. As many of the soldiers were being mustered out, through the expiration of their terms of enlistment, no little watchfulness and executive ability were required to protect the interests of the brave defenders of their country, as well as those of the government.
At the Union State Convention of the Republican party, held in Syracuse, September, 1866, among the delegates from the city of New York was General Darling. When the roll of delegates was called, it was claimed that the delegates sent from the Seventh Assembly District represented the conservative element and were hostile to the radicals who called the convention. It caused some excitement: a recess was called, and during this recess General Darling with wise diplomacy reconciled opposing factions by resigning his seat in favor of Sinclair Tousey upon condition that his two associates should compose with him the delegation. This arrangement was acceptable to the convention and the renomination of Governor Fenton was thus secured beyond a doubt and made. unanimous. In 1866 Colonel Darling was commissioned as commissary-general of subsistence, which brought him into still closer relations with Governor Fenton as a member of his military cabinet. This office he held until January 1, 1867, when, on the re-election of the governor, General Darling received the appointment of military engineer-in-chief of the State of New York with the rank of brigadier general. When the administration of Governor Fenton was nearing its close General Darling applied for and obtained leave of absence to visit Europe again on a tour of instruction and pleasure. While in England he received many courtesies; among the various invitations extended to him was one from Lord Elcho to meet the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, and be present with them on a review of troops at Aldershot. In a subsequent trip abroad with his wife he traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, and Africa, making the trip up the Nile, through Ethiopia and Nubia, as far as the river is navigable. During this time many articles from his pen, of a historical and political character, appeared in our various magazines and newspapers.
Having means at his command, which renders him independent of business cares, General Darling has been able to gratify to the utmost his literary and scientific. Ten years of his life have been devoted to foreign travel in nearly every country of the globe, and from this broad experience he has returned with a knowledge of national manners and customs and a fund of general information which has been of great value in his writings. Intensely fond of historical studies he has prosecuted his investigations in this department of learning with unusual diligence and with excellent results. His writings cover a wide range of themes, which he handles with skill, and in a way to interest both the specialist and the general reader. His high character, scholarly attainments, and distinguished public services, have given him a large acquaintance with many of the public men of the day and earned for him many scientific and literary honors.
His active interest in public affairs, and his prominent connection with some of the most stirring events happening in his time, have necessarily made him to a certain extent a conspicuous figure among his fellow citizens, by whom he is held in universal esteem. Notwithstanding the fact that he has persistently held aloof from politics, preferring the more congenial pursuits of literature and historical research, he has several times been asked to become a candidate for municipal positions, but while appreciating the honor he has declined all political preferment. His work is performed quietly among his books, from which he feels that nothing save the gravest condition of public affairs can separate him. For several years he held the office of president of the Young Men's Christian Association of Utica, his present adopted home, and he is now one of its directors. Those who are familiar with the past struggles of that association for life, concede that he carried it through the most critical period of its history. As a result of those arduous undertakings, an elegant structure has been erected for the Utica Young Men's Christian Association, by its friends, and the building is considered one of the most conspicuous ornaments of the city. General Darling was also a member of the State Executive Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations, and on the expiration of his term of office in 1888, he was elected one of its trustees. His interest in religious matters, however, is not confined to affairs with this department of Christian work. He is a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Utica. Through his connection with the Oneida Historical Society he has cultivated his taste for historical studies, and his literary productions are numerous. He never writes for pecuniary compensation, and the elegant monographs, brochures, essays, excerpta, etc., which he frequently sends out, are printed for private distribution.
On the 21st of December, 1857, General Darling married Angeline E., second daughter of Jacob A. Robertson, a wealthy and highly respected citizen of New York. His father was Archibald Robertson, the Scotch artist who painted from life the celebrated miniatures on ivory of General and Martha Washington, during the time when he was sojourning as a guest in the family of the" First President." His brothers were Andrew J., Alexander H. (who at the time of his decease was grand master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York), and Anthony L. Robertson, surrogate of New York in 1848, and chief justice of the Superior Court in 1860-69. A sister of these brothers married Henry Winslow, founder of the banking house bearing his name. Another sister married Robert N. Tinson of England and well known as a resident of New York city. General Darling has no children to inherit the honor of a good name, but his fondness for the little ones makes him always a favorite with them.
General Darling was also a member of the advisory council of the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition on historical literature. This congress was authorized and supported by the Exposition corporation for the purpose of bringing about a series of conventions of the leaders, at home and abroad, in the various departments of human progress during the Exposition season of 1893. It was approved and recognized by the government of the United States, and its general announcement was sent to foreign governments by the Department of State. An appropriation on account of its expenses was made by an act of Congress.
General Darling is a hereditary member of the general society of Colonial Wars, S. N. Y., by right of his descent from John Haynes, governor of Massachusetts in 1635, and of Connecticut in 1639, and every alternate year thereafter until 1654, when. he died.
He is also a " Son of the Revolution " by reason of his being a great-grandson of Major Robert Davis, of the artillery under General Washington. He is a member of the American Historical Association, Honorary Fellow of the Society of Science, Letters, and Art, London, England; associate member of the Victoria Institute; honorary member of the Chautauqua Society of History and Natural Science, New York; Waterloo Historical Society, New York; New Jersey Historical Society; Alabama Historical Society'; Mississippi Historical Society; Iowa Historical Society; Alaska Historical Society; Pioneer and Historical Society of Lansing, Mich. ; Historical Society University, Miss.; Historical Societies at Rochester, N. Y.; and at Charlestown, W. Va. ; corresponding member of the American Ethnological Society; Academy of Anthropology; American Numismatic and Archaeological Society; Buffalo Historical Society; Mohawk Valley Historical Society, and the Cayuga County Historical Society, all of New York. In the State of Maine he is in the same manner connected with the Bangor Historical Society; in New Hampshire, with the Historical Society of Concord; in Vermont with the Middlebury Historical Society. In Massachusetts, with the New England Historical Genealogical Society; the Dedham Historical Society; the Old Colony Historical Society; and the Ipswich Historical Society. In Rhode Island, with the Newport Historical Society. In Connecticut, with the Connecticut Historical Society; the New Haven Colony Historical Society; the Fairfield County Historical Society; and the Saugatuck Historical Society. In Ohio with the State Archaeological and Historical Society; and the Western Reserve Historical Society. In Pennsylvania with the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society; the Linnean Historical and Scientific Society; and the Wyoming Geological and Historical Society. In New Jersey, with the Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Science. In North Carolina with the Historical Society of Chapel Hill. In Indiana, with the Geological and Historical Society at Indianapolis. In Maryland, with the Historical Society of Baltimore. In Virginia, with the Historical Society at Richmond. In Georgia, with the Historical Society at Savannah. In Tennessee, with the Historical Society at Nashville. In Wisconsin, with the Historical Society at Madison. In Minnesota, with the Historical Society at St. Paul. In Kansas, with the Historical Society at Topeka. In Nebraska, with the Historical Society at Lincoln. In California, with the Geographical Society of the Pacific, at San Francisco; the Historical Society of Southern California; and the Historical Society at San Francisco. In Canada, with the Quebec Literary and Historical Society. In South Carolina, with the Historical Society at Charleston. In Washington, with the Historical Societies at Tacoma, Walla Walla. He is a life member of the Oneida Historical Society, at Utica, N. Y., and its corresponding secretary; and honorary secretary, at Utica, of the Egypt Exploration Fund, of London, England.
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