Ruby Ann Darling

{{Short description|Bahamian politician (born 1941)}}

Ruby Ann Cooper-Darling (born 28 June 1941) is a Bahamian politician and stateswoman.{{Cite web |last=Guardian |first=The Nassau |date=2021-09-20 |title=A tidal wave of women in politics |url=https://www.thenassauguardian.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/a-tidal-wave-of-women-in-politics/article_2e65d257-032a-5ff7-aa5a-b00f358ed518.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=The Nassau Guardian |language=en}}

In the 1962 Bahamian general election, Darling made history becoming the first woman to cast a vote in the country.{{Cite web |title=Bahamas Association Florida Celebrates Black History Month {{!}} Nassau / Paradise Island, Bahamas {{!}} Bahamas Local News - Nassau / Paradise Island, Bahamas |url=https://www.bahamaslocal.com/newsitem/93649/showlisting/14225/Odyssey_Aviation_Bahamas.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.bahamaslocal.com}}

In 1974, she ran as an independent candidate in a by-election in the St Barnabas constituency. In 1982, she was appointed a Senator and served in that capacity for five years.{{Cite web |title=FACE TO FACE: The first in line to change The Bahamas |url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/nov/29/face-face-first-line-change-bahamas/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.tribune242.com |language=en}}

In the 1987 Bahamian general election, she became only the second woman to be elected to the House of Assembly.{{Cite web |last=Sampson |first=Vanessa |title=UB LibGuides: Women in Bahamian History: Ruby Ann Darling |url=https://cob-bs.libguides.com/c.php?g=1304986&p=9675563 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=cob-bs.libguides.com |language=en}} She was elected in the George Town/Ragged Island constituency for the Progressive Liberal Party.

In 2022, she was honoured as Ambassador for Women Affairs in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-11-29 |title=First Woman To Register To Vote Honoured |url=https://znsbahamas.com/first-woman-to-register-to-vote-honoured/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=ZNS BAHAMAS |language=en-US}}

On November 7, 2023, Darling was sworn in as the Deputy to the Governor-General of the Bahamas.{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Ruby Ann Darling sworn in as Deputy to the Governor General |url=https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/gov/government/news/ruby%20ann%20darling%20sworn%20in%20as%20deputy%20to%20the%20governor%20general/!ut/p/b1/vZPJjqMwEIafJQ-QxsYs5mgWAx32LcAFJYEsJBASkkB4-klLc-geaWYu0-M6WSr9n-uzismZlMnb1eOwW90O53Z1-rjnQoGAbhPCYRtTgQAzRhTxC4J0HzJLJjUyJKtne6eRpMhDXClJTZ-Wvj3nlT6cz-Auq0R_zOfdYoM2fGskIre6XNr71m01bV2lhyQMVocSs2DKQnND9rSST5YWP-W9T-ej5t0wWimLwd2VntqfE5vTWkDivrt6Vax4sbEx6Jp7UJVw7_0g4CJc34BujfWDbx5uapmujxdJYC-UNr-rIAbIurKRaj433WhfQTaPaNHWxXTdD-Nr4Ow1MPjNIeBvPt6Z_LBu3oZN8wbekCSJGPKYwxCzEOKXrfxrgM4D4RXgWcQTDdblwM-GPzwgezWInxKiBAATAhKE0AdYFJmISQFXhPWzM6fjFNSTz9pWPPTgCaG6HBw1TZz4OPW3wHE0MEE1Zp06sewoHsMpA7ZjeGUSxDKRT_t2L_0KdNlIegEVKCxiHoQ6-m6gzrv45UiMPMKzLwXC_wby3wXUXdtXPpRG8odSZBhEsJCrwf8N_Pd_-GUPeA7yvARZSWBFVoQik3QZN657e1C15WM4JrWJUdnfN2TdrZTb_rTeaX5IZURvguTzhFD3yhpeMRXcGBZlu5VUpTmiR3-aiuUzJKhL_Ds6OsFRXZ5oMM0T_3TR2rKui6SsjEvlX-rnHKGTWZVKtm-0bnD89YXSa0Z9kxUOQzZxcrOkdMEf0Yqythk5ux2fAiw7m8GolCgX6ogMbFabPV5KyMXQKUVz7JqFm2-VLIRcrC7vVgnSrTeZxbsmFlXiVrd57xXjNh_92YxxjHNTMV3zsPh3Y0o_VUVmsx-q2zZd/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ |website=Government of the Bahamas}}