John Darling Jr. | |
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11th Leader of the Opposition (SA) | |
In office 1902–1904 |
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Preceded by | Robert Homburg |
Succeeded by | Thomas Price |
Personal details | |
Born | 24 January 1852 |
Died | 27 March 1914 | (aged 62)
Political party | Australasian National League (1896–05) |
John Darling, Jr. (24 January 1852 – 27 March 1914) was a South Australian businessman and politician. He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1896 to 1905, representing the electorates of East Torrens (1896-1902) and Torrens (1902-1905}. He was Leader of the Opposition from 1902 to 1904. After leaving politics, he was chairman of the board of directors of Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. from 1907 to 1914.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the eldest son of John Darling Sr., on 24 January 1852. He emigrated to South Australia with his parents and brother, arriving in Adelaide early in 1855. He was educated at the Pulteney Street School (later Pulteney Grammar School) and at the age of 14 started work in his father's business.
In 1872 he was brought into partnership in his father's business, renamed John Darling and Son. His father retired in October 1897, leaving him in sole control. Under his control, the company purchased the Eclipse flour mills, Port Adelaide, and the goodwill of J. Dunn and Co. in ???. He founded a hay-compressing business in Gawler, near the railway station. He became a director of Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. in 1892 and was chairman of directors from 1907 to 1914. He was on the local directorates of several insurance and mining companies with head offices in London, a director of the National Mutual Assurance Society, Victoria and the Port Adelaide Dock Company. He was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Shipowners' Association, and the South Australian Employers' Union.
Darling was part of the Australasian National League (previously National Defence League) and represented East Torrens in the South Australian House of Assembly the 1896 election to the 1902 election, and after a boundary redistribution, Torrens until the 1905 election. He served as eleventh Leader of the Opposition. He was involved in the reconstruction of the Ministry following the retirement of the Hon. J. G. Jenkins, and when (later Sir) Richard Butler took office in 1905 prior to the election.