CHARLES HIAL DARLING
DARLING, CHARLES HIAL, assistant secretary of the navy under President Roosevelt. Mr. Darling is a native of Woodstock, Windsor county, Vermont, where he was born May 9, 1859, the son of Jason L. Darling and Ellen L. (Paul) Darling. His earliest ancestor in America was Dennis Darling, who settled in Braintree, Massachusetts, before 1662. Jason L. Darling, a town official of Woodstock, was variously engaged as teacher and farmer, and his son's earliest occupation was as a boy worker on the farm. He was given good opportunities to acquire an education, however, preparing for college at Woodstock academy and Montpelier seminary, and entering Tufts college in 1880. He was graduated A.B. in 1884, and in later life he received from his alma mater the honorary degree of LL.D. (1903). Mr. Darling's choice of a profession was the law; and after the requisite course of study he was admitted (in 1886) to the bar of Maine and of Vermont. Opening an office in Bennington, Vermont, he engaged successfully in the practice of the law, his ability in his profession soon leading to his election as municipal judge, a position which he filled with credit for fifteen years. He was president of the Vermont Bar Association, 1899-1900. A Republican in political faith, he was made president of the village of Bennington in 1896, was elected to the General Assembly of Vermont in 1896 and in 1898, and in 1901 he was selected by President Roosevelt for the position of assistant secretary of the navy, an important administrative post which had been filled by Roosevelt himself, four years before. He entered upon his duties December 17, 1901, and still holds this position. Mr. Darling married Agnes Christmas Norton on December 6, 1889, and has a family of three children. He is a Freemason and served for three years as Master of St. Anthony lodge, Vermont. In 1904 he was made president of the Grand Chapter of the Zeta Psi fraternity.
