Thomas Darley

Thomas Darley (born 19 May 1664) served as Her Majesty's Consul to the Levant (Syria) during the reign of Queen Anne.

His father was Richard Darley, and his mother Dorothea was a daughter of the regicide Thomas Waite (Wayte).

[2] The horse whose original name was "Ras el Fedowi," translated as "The Headstrong One", became immortalised as the "Darley Arabian".

In Thomas Darley's own words, "he was immediately striking owing to his handsome appearance and exceedingly elegant carriage".

Through his offspring, including his great-grandson, the famous and never beaten Eclipse, he has had the greater influence of the three foundation stallions of the thoroughbred breed.