DARLING, John (1837?-1903) — Southampton
Ordnance Survey engraver. Executed the lettering on Arran 1870, the outlines by Henry Baker, and both outlines and lettering on Banchory 1871, both sheets in the Geological Survey of Scotland.
Born in Dublin about 1837 and a son of Charles Darling (see BME 2011) and his first wife Agnes Short (1809?-1858), who had married in 1829. He was already working as an engraver for the Ordnance Survey at the age of fourteen in 1851. He married (1) Priscilla Elizabeth Early (1835-1894), daughter of a local tailor, with whom he had at least two children, at Southampton in 1859. In 1861, he, his wife, and an infant son were living next door to Henry Self. In 1863, he was earning 6s 3d a day as an outline and lettering engraver. He worked for the Ordnance Survey until his retirement on 28 Apr 1896. After the death of his first wife, he married (2) Lucy Harriette Smith (1848-1929), daughter of Cornelius Smith, in 1899. He died 3 Mar 1903. Probate on effects of £479.0s.3d was granted to his widow 16 Apr 1903. His son William Ernest Darling (1860-1929) worked for the Ordnance Survey as a clerk.
Alfred Street, Southampton (home) — 1851
28 Alfred Street, Southampton (home) — 1861
Padwell Road, Southampton (home) — 1871
86 Alexandra Road, Millbrook (home) — 1881
34 Ordnance Road, Southampton (home) — 1891
30 The Avenue, Southampton (home) — 1901
Census 1851-1901. LHD. OSP.