Smedley Darlington

Smedley Darlington (December 24, 1827 – June 24, 1899) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district from 1887 to 1891.

Biography

Darlington was born in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania on December 24, 1827, the son of son of Richard and Edith (Smedley) Darlington.Template:Sfn He attended the common schools and the Friends' Central School in Philadelphia.Template:Sfn He taught at Friends’ Central School for several years, and while teaching he made stenographic reports of sermons, lectures, and speeches for the newspapers of Philadelphia.Template:Sfn He established a school in Ercildoun, Pennsylvania.Template:Sfn First known as Ercildoun Seminary, it was later called Darlington Seminary, and Darlington operated it as an academy for boys during its first three years, then converted it to a school for girls.Template:Sfn Darlington Academy remained open for 12 years.

He enlisted in the Civil War as a private and was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain in Beaumont’s Independent Company of Cavalry, Pennsylvania Volunteer Emergency Militia.Template:Sfn He was discharged with the company on September 24, 1862.Template:Sfn He moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1864.Template:Sfn

After the war, Darlington became active in banking and investment brokering, and owned interests in several financial institutions and corporations.Template:Sfn He was an early entrant into the petroleum industry in the 1880s, and maintained an office in Oil City, Pennsylvania from which he managed his involvement.Template:Sfn In 1885, he founded the Chester County Guaranty Trust & Safe Deposit Company, and he served as its president until 1897.Template:Sfn

Darlington was a delegate to the 1872 Liberal Republican convention and the 1896 Republican National Convention.Template:Sfn In 1886, he was elected as a Republican to the 50th Congress.Template:Sfn He was reelected to the 51st Congresses in 1888.Template:Sfn Darlington served as a Representative from March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1891 and was not a candidate for renomination in 1890.Template:Sfn

Darlington died in West Chester on June 24, 1899.Template:Sfn His funeral took place at his home, "Faunbrook" on June 26, and he was buried at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester.Template:Sfn

In 1851, Darlington married Mary Edwards Baker.Template:Sfn They were the parents of 11 children, four of whom died in infancy.Template:Sfn Their daughter Isabel became the first woman to practice law in Chester County. His daughter Maud became the wife of Thomas S. Butler, who also served in Congress,Template:Sfn and the mother of Marine Corps Major General Smedley Darlington Butler.Template:Sfn He was the second cousin of Congressmen Edward Darlington, Isaac Darlington, and William Darlington.Template:Sfn

Photos

• Darlington's house in West Chester
  Darlington's house in West Chester
• Darlington's grave at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania
  Darlington's grave at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania

External links

Template:CongBio Retrieved on 2008-02-14

• Smedley Darlington at The Political Graveyard