Family and Education

b. 25 Sept. 1742 at Lisbon, 1st s. of Lionel Darell of Holborn by Honoria, da. of Humphrey Hardwicke, merchant and British vice-consul at Lisbon. m. 30 July 1766, Isabella, da. of Timothy Tullie, director of E.I. Co. 1750-63, 1s. 5da. suc. fa. 19 Oct. 1783; cr. Bt. 12 May 1795.

Offices Held

Senior merchant, E.I. Co. 1768; keeper of account deposits 1770; director 1780-3, 1785-8, 1790-3, 1795-1798, 1800- d.

Biography

Darell entered the East India Company’s service two years after his marriage to the daughter of a former director. In 1775, his fortune made, he left India. In 1780 he made an unsuccessful and expensive attempt to enter the House of Commons, contesting Lyme Regis on the interest of the independent householders in opposition to that of Lord Westmorland.

As one of the Sulivan faction in the Company, Darell was in close contact with John Robinson and Richard Atkinson, and became a friend of George Rose, who recommended him to Robinson in 1784 as one ‘who will pay £2,000 or £2,500 or perhaps £3,000’1 for a seat. Robinson proposed him for the second seat at Hedon, where he was returned after an expensive contest. In the House Darell supported Pitt. His only reported speech during this Parliament was in the debate of 5 May 1785 on East India Company finances, when he enumerated the various savings to be made in India, and pointed out the vast wealth available there.2

Darell died 30 Oct. 1803.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: E. A. Smith

Notes

• 1. Laprade, 126, 128.
• 2. Debrett, xviii 188.