Date Published:
January 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Thomas Stephen Darling

Manager of the Terminal Properties of the Canadian National Railways, Montreal. Mayor of the Town of Mount Royal, Que. Born Detroit, Mich., Oct. 17, 1881, son of Theodore Stewart and Minnie (Kirby) Darling. Educated: Curtis School , Brookfield, Conn. ; Cheltenham Military Academy , Ogontz , Pa. ; and St. Paul 's School at Garden City, Long Island. Apprentice to machinist's trade, 1900; went West as Mechanical Engineer to Butte, Mont., subsequently ranching at Big Timber, Mont. Later went to Little Falls, Minn., to Davidson & McRae, who controlled seventeen banks throughout the Dakotas and Minnesota. After banking experience with the First National Bank at Little Falls, was transferred to the St. Paul Office of Saskatchewan Valley Land Co., subsequently being advanced to position of Manager. Became Asst. Cashier of the First National Bank of Little Falls. In 1906, went to Winnipeg, engaging in the real estate business, operating as Kirby & Darling Co., Ltd.; remained in that line for a year and then went back with Davidson and McRae as Manager of the Townsite Dept., of Immigration Department, Canadian Northern Ry.; next was made Manager of the Immigration Dept., and later put in charge of the Sales Dept. of lands. In May, 1911, went to Montreal, bought the terminals and managed the details necessary for the entrance of the Canadian Northern Ry. into Montreal ; purchased, sold and laid out the lands now comprising Mount Royal, The Model City, of Montreal. Mount Royal was incorporated as a separate municipality by special Act of the Legislature in 1912, and is under the Cities and Town Act, and in 1913, was elected the first Mayor of Mount Royal. President, The Mount Royal Land Co., Ltd. Director, Title Guarantee and Trust Corporation. Married Miss Edith Davidson, July 9, 1907 (deceased, 1913), daughter of Col. A. D. Davidson, of the Can. Nor. Ry., and the firm of Davidson & McRae; had one son, Andrew Davidson Darling; 2ndly, Mrs. Marie Lillian (Simpson) Martel, of Montreal, 1917, has one daughter, Felice Martel. Clubs: Montreal ; Montreal Indoor Tennis; Royal Victoria Yacht. Residence: 125 Vivian Street, Mount Royal, Que.

Source: Prominent People of the Province of Quebec, 1923-24, Montreal, Biographical Society of Canada, Limited, undated and unpaginated.