Frederick Matthew Darley

Sir Frederick Matthew Darley (18 September 1830 – 4 January 1910) was the sixth Chief Justice of New South Wales, (He is also referred to as the 5th Chief Justice, owing to Julian Salomons resigning before being sworn in.)

Darley attended the Royal School Dungannon (sometimes known as "Dungannon College") in County Tyrone, Ireland. One of his fellow students was an eventual Chief Justice of Victoria, George Higinbotham.

Appointment as Chief Justice

Darley became Chief Justice on 7 December 1886. Sir Samuel Way, Chief Justice of South Australia, described him "as in many respects the noblest figure we have ever had on the Australian bench".

Darley's longest period administering the government was from 1 November 1900 to 27 May 1902.

Honours and later years Darley was knighted in 1887, created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1897, and received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) on 15 May 1901.

He visited England in 1902 and was appointed a member of the Royal Commission set up to investigate the conduct of the Second Boer War (the Elgin Commission 1902–1903). He was also appointed a member of the privy council in 1905.

He died in London on 4 January 1910.