Thomas Darling (February 21, 1720November 30, 1789) was a businessman and elected official in 18th century

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...

who was acquainted with

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

, Ezra Stiles,

Roger Sherman Roger Sherman (April 19, 1721 – July 23, 1793) was an American statesman, lawyer, and a Founding Father of the United States. He is the only person to sign four of the great state papers of the United States related to the founding: the Con ...

, and Benedict Arnold."History" Web page
Amity & Woodbridge Historical Society website. Retrieved February 6, 2007

Life

Darling studied theology at

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134 ...

, graduating in 1740. Although he was licensed to preach in 1743, he never sought to become a minister, but trained others for it as the only tutor at Yale from 1743 to 1745. The Yale class of 1746 presented him with a still-surviving silver bowl created by Cornelius Kierstede. The bowl, is said to be the most ornamental piece of plate made in Connecticut up to that time, is owned by Yale University."American Silversmiths / Thomas Darling (1720-1789)" Web page
RootsWeb website. Retrieved February 6, 2007 On July 25, 1745, in New Haven he married Abigail Noyes (b. March 20, 1724 - d. July 19, 1797), a daughter of the Rev. Joseph Noyes, Darling's mentor. The couple had three sons and five daughters with all but one surviving to adulthood: Abigail, Susanna, Samuel, Thomas, Ann, Dorothy, Joseph and Jemima. Over the next 31 years in New Haven Darling was an entrepreneur involved in various businesses. He was a manufacturer, merchant, and justice of the peace. Darling ran a

rope walk A ropewalk is a long straight narrow lane, or a covered pathway, where long strands of material are laid before being twisted into rope. Due to the length of some ropewalks, workers may use bicycles to get from one end to the other. Many ropew ...

, helped start the first printing business in New Haven, tried to establish a glass business, and was a member of the General Assembly. He was an advocate of religious freedom, and a supporter of the U. S.Constitution. In 1774 Darling moved to Amity Parish, now

Woodbridge, Connecticut Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,087 at the 2020 census. The town center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Woodbridge Green Historic District. Woodbridge is part of ...

, and built a house. The

Darling House Museum The Darling House Museum is a historic house museum at 1907 Litchfield Turnpike in Woodbridge, Connecticut, and is owned and operated by the Amity & Woodbridge Historical Society. The house is open by appointment and during special events. In ...

is now operated by the Amity & Woodbridge Historical Society. He died in 1789 in Stonington and was buried in New Haven.

References

1720 births 1789 deaths Businesspeople from New Haven, Connecticut Yale College alumni People of colonial Connecticut 18th-century American businesspeople People from Woodbridge, Connecticut Politicians from New Haven, Connecticut {{connecticut-politician-stub