Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Darley, John Richard
DARLEY, JOHN RICHARD (1799–1884), bishop of Kilmore, Elphin, and Ardagh, a member of a mercantile family long connected with the city of Dublin, was the second son of Richard Darley of Fairfield, co. Monaghan, by Elizabeth, daughter of B. Brunker of Rockcorry, in the same county. He was born at Fairfield in November 1799. From the royal school of Dungannon he entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1816, and soon distinguished himself in classics, mathematics, and Hebrew; in 1819 he was elected to a foundation scholarship, and graduated B.A. 1820, M.A. 1827, and B.D. and D.D. 1875. Devoting his attention in early life chiefly to scholastic pursuits, he was successively head-master of the grammar school of Dundalk, 1826, in which year he was ordained; head-master of the royal school of Dungannon, 1831; rector of Drumgoon, in the diocese of Kilmore, 1850; and archdeacon of Ardagh, and rector of Templemichael, in that diocese, 1866. He published two classical works, ‘The Grecian Drama; a Treatise on the Dramatic Literature of the Greeks,’ London, 1840, 8vo; and ‘Homer, with Questions,’ 1848, 12mo. On the death of Thomas Carson, LL.D., he was elected by the joint synods, 23 Sept. 1874, to the bishopric of Kilmore, Elphin, and Ardagh, and was consecrated in Armagh Cathedral on the 25th of the month following, being the second bishop appointed under the new constitution of the church of Ireland. At the time of his election comments were freely made with regard to his age, but he proved equal to the duties of the episcopate. He died 20 Jan. 1884, leaving a widow, the eldest daughter of John, third lord Plunket, and sister of the present Lord Plunket archbishop of Dublin, whom he married in 1851.
[Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette, 26 Jan. 1884; Annual Register (1884), p. 113; Cotton's Fasti Ecclesiæ Hibernicæ, vi. 102; Todd's Catalogue of Dublin Graduates; Charles's Irish Church Directory.]