Early Career
Darling entered the British Army as an ensign in 1793 in the 45th Regiment of Foot, and in August 1796 was appointed military secretary to Sir Ralph Abercromby. Having commanded a regiment at the Battle of Corunna, Darling subsequently was promoted to brevet-colonel in 1810, major-general in 1813, deputy adjutant general in 1814 and was on the Royal Horse Guards staff in 1815.
Between February 1819 and February 1824, Darling commanded the British troops on Mauritius, before serving as acting Governor of the colony for the last three years of his stay, exhibiting administrative ability. Darling was very unpopular in Mauritius, particularly for allowing a British frigate to breach quarantine and start an epidemic of cholera. He then suspended the island's Conseil de Commune when it protested his actions. Nevertheless, it was largely on account of this service that Darling was appointed the seventh Governor of New South Wales in 1824.
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