Isaac Darkin (also rendered as Darking; 2 April 1740 – 23 March 1761), who also used the alias Dumas, was a notorious highwayman in the eighteenth century.
Early life and start of life of crime
Darkin was born on 2 April 1740, the son of a cork-cutter. He was born in the Eastcheap district of London, and according to the London Chronicle, attended a boarding school in Kent. After the death of his father in 1754, Darkin, along with his sister, took over the running of the family business. Within a few years they had closed down the business and this is when Darkin was drawn to a life of crime. Operating successfully as a highwayman in the Essex area, his robberies over a nine-month period helped support an extravagant lifestyle, reputedly with many mistresses.
First trial, exile and escape from Antigua
He was eventually apprehended and put on trial for robbing a Captain Cockburn, Darkin was tried at the Chelmsford Assizes in February 1758. He pleaded guilty to one of the eight charges laid against him. Although given a capital sentence on account of his youth the judge granted a reprieve and sentenced him to fourteen years of transportation. However, due to his role in uncovering a plot by prisoners to kill the prison keeper and escape, and the intercession of the grateful keeper, Darkin was given a pardon on the condition he joined the 48th Regiment of Foot, a regiment of the British Army, then stationed at Antigua. He sailed to Antigua in January 1759. Service life did not suit Darkin and he was court-martialled three times within seven weeks before being appointed to the undemanding role of servant to an officer.
Darkin was not in the army long before he persuaded a captain of a merchant navy ship, with the promise of a reward, to smuggle him back to England, an offence that carried a fine of £100 at that time.
Return to England, career in the Navy and resumption of life of crime
On his return, where he arrived at Portsmouth, he left immediately for London, telling the ship's captain that he was going to raise the promised reward from friends. Darkin swiftly resumed his career as a highwayman in the west and midlands of England, deliberately avoiding Essex and using the aliases Harris and Hamilton. According to the London Chronicle, Darkin spent the proceeds of his crimes on "lewd women". Thinking his growing notoriety would lead to his capture, he sought safety from the law by joining the Royal Navy. He served aboard the Royal George, where he was soon promoted to Midshipman. His naval service did not interfere unduly with his criminal career as he availed of a leave of absence during which he returned to his former activities in the vicinity of Bath.
This spree culminated notably in the robbery of around 13 guineas and a pistol from Lord Percival, the son of the Earl of Egmont who was travelling to Bath; the attack took place on 22 June 1760 near Devizes. The Annual Register gave the following account of the encounter. On approaching Percival's post-chaise, Darkin, wearing a crape to hide his face, produced a gun and Percival handed over a sum of money of about 13 guineas – he was unsure of the exact amount. Darkin believed that he carried more money and demanded that Percival's purse be produced with the threat of "blowing his brains out". Percival managed to disarm the highwayman, but in the ensuing pursuit, Darkin produced another pistol. Percival attempted to shoot at him, but his gun misfired. Darkin approached Percival again with demands for his purse, but on Percival's assurances that he had no more money to hand, the highwayman accepted the word of Percival and retreated from the scene, only asking that Percival would not appear as a witness against him in any subsequent court case.
Evading an attempt to capture him several hours later, which included a four-hour pursuit and a fall from his horse, an exhausted Darkin asked a local farmer near the village of Upavon for a bed for the night. The farmer directed him to a local public-house, where later in the night, the highwayman was captured by a group of locals. This group included the farmer who had at the time of their meeting recognised him from the reports of the robbery.