He started his colonial service while in Jamaica, during which time he often clashed with leaders of the
free people of color who were elected to the island's Assembly, such as
Robert Osborn. He became Lieutenant-Governor of
St. Lucia in 1847, and he became Lieutenant-Governor of the
Cape Colony in South Africa in 1851. A town in South Africa, on the West Coast of the country was named after Darling. He became Governor of
Newfoundland in 1855. Darling became governor and captain-chief of Jamaica in 1856 then governor of
Victoria, Australia from 1863 to 1866. During his time in Newfoundland, Darling came into disagreement with prominent people in the colony regarding fishing rights. He supported the
British recommendations to grant the French more fishing rights in waters of
Newfoundland between
Cape St. John and
Cape Ray. Ultimately, the dispute ended his term in office. In Victoria, Darling was embroiled in a
constitutional crisis when he obeyed the advice of premier
James McCulloch to authorise payments servicing a £40,000 loan made by
London Chartered Bank of Australia, of which McCulloch was a director, without appropriation by the
Legislative Council. The loan had been extended after McCulloch's government had
lost supply when attempting to force the Legislative Council to approve a new tariff my attaching it to the annual appropriation bill. Following his early recall as
Governor of Victoria, the colonial parliament attempted to compensate Darling through a £20,000 payment to his wife.
Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, the colonial secretary, sent messages to both the Darlings and the
Legislative Assembly that this would not be permitted. He also instructed the new governor,
Sir John Manners-Sutton, to refuse assent to any such bill passed while Darling remained in the
Colonial Service. Victoria was Darling's final posting. ==Personal life==