Frederick Darley

Frederick Darley (1764 – 29 June 1841) was an Irish builder, alderman, police magistrate, lord mayor and developer.

Life and family Frederick Darley was born in Dublin, and baptised on 6 July 1764. His father was a successful public works contractor, Henry Darley (1721?–1798). His mother was Henry's first wife, Mary née Steele (died 1770). Darley's great grandfather, also Henry (died 1728?), was a quarry owner in Newtownards, County Down, and the extended Darley family were established in Dublin as builders and stonemasons. George Darley, the poet, was a distant relative. Darley attended a school run by Sisson Darling in Mabbott Street, at the same time as Theobald Wolfe Tone.

He was a member of the merchants' guild, and from there began his career in Dublin municipal politics. He served as joint Sheriff of Dublin City from 1798 to 1799, alderman from 1800, and Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1808 to 1809. He was appointed a police magistrate in 1808 and chief police magistrate in 1812. Darley was an Orangeman from the foundation of the first lodge in Dublin in June 1796. He was a supported of George Robert Dawson in his campaign for parliament, despite Dawson's support for catholic emancipation.