The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Darley, Hon. Sir Frederick Matthew
Darley, Hon. Sir Frederick Matthew, Chief Justice of New South Wales, son of the late Henry Darley of county Wicklow, Ireland, was born on Sept. 18th, 1830, and educated at Dungannon College, and at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. in 1851. He was called to the Irish bar in Jan. 1853, and went the Munster Circuit. Having determined to try his fortunes in Australia, he went to New South Wales, and was admitted to the bar there in June 1862. In Sept. 1868 he was called to the Legislative Council Having practised at the bar with success, he was made Q.C. in 1878. From Nov. 1881 to Jan. 1883 Sir Frederick was Vice-President of the Executive Council, and represented the Parkes Government in the Legislative Council. Upon the death of Sir James Martin in Nov. 1886 he was offered the position of Chief Justice; this he refused, whereupon Sir Julian Salomons was appointed to that office. On his resignation, however, before he was sworn in, the position was again pressed upon Sir Frederick, who finally accepted the office, and was knighted in April 1887. Sir Frederick was married at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, England, on Dec. 13th, 1860, to Miss Lucy Forest Browne.