George Johnston (New South Wales)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston (19 March 1764 – 5 January 1823) was briefly Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales
, Australia
after leading the rebellion later known as the Rum Rebellion
.
Johnston was born at Annan
, Dumfriesshire
, Scotland
, the son of Captain George Johnston, aide-de-camp to Lord Percy, later Duke of Northumberland. Percy obtained a commission for the young Johnston as second lieutenant of marines on 6 March 1776, Johnston was promoted lieutenant in 1778. After service in America and the East Indies Johnston went to New South Wales as lieutenant of marines with the First Fleet
. He acted as adjutant to Governor Phillip
, was sent to Norfolk Island
in 1790, and transferred to the New South Wales Corps
, of which he became a captain, in September 1792.
Johnston received extensive land grants in areas of modern Petersham
, Bankstown
and Cabramatta
. The suburb of Georges Hall
takes its name from the farmhouse of the same name on land grants he received near the junction of Georges River
and Prospect Creek
. This building still exists and is now one of the country's oldest houses. Johnston's other grants included land which is now the suburb of Annandale
, named for his property that was in turn named after the place of his birth. He and Esther Abrahams
farmed and lived on this land with their children until the 1870s when it was sold and sub-divided for residential development. The main street of Annandale is named Johnston and the gates of their property now stand in the grounds of Annandale Public School.
In September 1796 Johnston was appointed aide-de-camp to Governor Hunter
, and in 1800 received his brevet rank as major. In the same year Johnston was put under arrest by Lieut.-Gov. Paterson
on charges of "paying spirits to a sergeant as part of his pay--and disobedience of orders". Johnston objected to trial by court-martial in the colony, and Hunter sent him to England. There the difficulties of conducting a trial with witnesses in Australia led to the proceedings being dropped, and Johnston returned to New South Wales in 1802. In 1803 Johnston took temporary command of the New South Wales Corps during the illness of Paterson, and became involved in the conflict between King
and the military. In March 1804 he acted with decision when in command of the military sent against some convicts who had rebelled at Castle Hill
. When Paterson was sent to Port Dalrymple
, Johnston became commander of the New South Wales Corps.
On 26 January 1808 Johnston played a key role in the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history, the Rum Rebellion
. Johnston led the troops that deposed Governor Bligh
, assumed the title of lieutenant-governor, and suspended the judge-advocate and other officials. This was quite illegal, the administration of justice became farcical, and there were signs of strong discontent among the settlers.
Johnston was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 25 April 1808, and was superseded by his senior officer Joseph Foveaux
, who was Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island
, on 28 July. Johnston sailed for England with Macarthur in March 1809 (and Henry Fulton
as a witness) and was tried by court-martial
in May 1811. Found guilty of mutiny he was sentenced to be cashiered. This extremely mild sentence in the circumstances could only have been imposed by a court convinced that he had been the tool of other people.
He returned to New South Wales as a private individual and lived on his land at Annandale, Sydney
. He died much respected on 5 January 1823, leaving a large family. He was first interred in a private mausoleum on his Annandale property, until its subdivision to become the inner city suburb upon which his remains were moved to a new mausoleum at Waverley Cemetery
in 1904.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
after leading the rebellion later known as the Rum Rebellion
Rum Rebellion
The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's history. The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808, 20...
.
Johnston was born at Annan
Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
The royal burgh of Annan is a well-built town, red sandstone being the material mainly used. Each year in July, Annan celebrates the Royal Charter and the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a...
, Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of Captain George Johnston, aide-de-camp to Lord Percy, later Duke of Northumberland. Percy obtained a commission for the young Johnston as second lieutenant of marines on 6 March 1776, Johnston was promoted lieutenant in 1778. After service in America and the East Indies Johnston went to New South Wales as lieutenant of marines with the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
. He acted as adjutant to Governor Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
, was sent to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
in 1790, and transferred to the New South Wales Corps
New South Wales Corps
The New South Wales Corps was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies...
, of which he became a captain, in September 1792.
Johnston received extensive land grants in areas of modern Petersham
Petersham, New South Wales
Petersham is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council...
, Bankstown
Bankstown, New South Wales
Bankstown is a suburb of south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bankstown is located 20 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Bankstown.-History:Prior to European...
and Cabramatta
Cabramatta, New South Wales
Cabramatta is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cabramatta is located 30 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Fairfield...
. The suburb of Georges Hall
Georges Hall, New South Wales
Georges Hall, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 24 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is part of the South-western Sydney region....
takes its name from the farmhouse of the same name on land grants he received near the junction of Georges River
Georges River
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway...
and Prospect Creek
Prospect Creek (New South Wales)
Prospect Creek is a small creek in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It flows from the Prospect reservoir for about 17 km until joining the Georges River at Georges Hall into the Dhurawal bay, in the Chipping Norton Lake system.As the reservoir forms a part of the...
. This building still exists and is now one of the country's oldest houses. Johnston's other grants included land which is now the suburb of Annandale
Annandale, New South Wales
Annandale is a suburb of Inner West Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Annandale is located within 3-5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt. Annandale's northern end lies on Rozelle Bay,...
, named for his property that was in turn named after the place of his birth. He and Esther Abrahams
Esther Abrahams
Esther Abrahams was a Londoner sent to Australia as a convict on the First Fleet. She later married George Johnston, who was briefly governor of the colony after leading the Rum Rebellion.- Transportation :...
farmed and lived on this land with their children until the 1870s when it was sold and sub-divided for residential development. The main street of Annandale is named Johnston and the gates of their property now stand in the grounds of Annandale Public School.
In September 1796 Johnston was appointed aide-de-camp to Governor Hunter
John Hunter (New South Wales)
Vice-Admiral John Hunter, RN was a British naval officer, explorer, naturalist and colonial administrator who succeeded Arthur Phillip as the second governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1795 to 1800.-Overview:...
, and in 1800 received his brevet rank as major. In the same year Johnston was put under arrest by Lieut.-Gov. Paterson
William Paterson (explorer)
Colonel William Paterson, FRS was a Scottish soldier, explorer, Lieutenant governor and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Paterson when citing a botanical name.-Early years:A native of Montrose, Scotland, Paterson was...
on charges of "paying spirits to a sergeant as part of his pay--and disobedience of orders". Johnston objected to trial by court-martial in the colony, and Hunter sent him to England. There the difficulties of conducting a trial with witnesses in Australia led to the proceedings being dropped, and Johnston returned to New South Wales in 1802. In 1803 Johnston took temporary command of the New South Wales Corps during the illness of Paterson, and became involved in the conflict between King
Philip Gidley King
Captain Philip Gidley King RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He is best known as the official founder of the first European settlement on Norfolk Island and as the third Governor of New South Wales.-Early years and establishment of Norfolk Island settlement:King was born...
and the military. In March 1804 he acted with decision when in command of the military sent against some convicts who had rebelled at Castle Hill
Castle Hill convict rebellion
The Castle Hill Rebellion of 4 March 1804, also called the Second Battle of Vinegar Hill, was a large-scale rebellion by Irish convicts against British colonial authority in Australia...
. When Paterson was sent to Port Dalrymple
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, Johnston became commander of the New South Wales Corps.
On 26 January 1808 Johnston played a key role in the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history, the Rum Rebellion
Rum Rebellion
The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's history. The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808, 20...
. Johnston led the troops that deposed Governor Bligh
William Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
, assumed the title of lieutenant-governor, and suspended the judge-advocate and other officials. This was quite illegal, the administration of justice became farcical, and there were signs of strong discontent among the settlers.
Johnston was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 25 April 1808, and was superseded by his senior officer Joseph Foveaux
Joseph Foveaux
Joseph Foveaux was a soldier and convict settlement administrator in colonial New South Wales, Australia.Foveaux was baptised on 6 April 1767 at Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England, the sixth child of Joseph Foveaux and his wife Elizabeth, née Wheeler...
, who was Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
, on 28 July. Johnston sailed for England with Macarthur in March 1809 (and Henry Fulton
Henry Fulton
Henry Fulton was an Irish-Australian clergyman and schoolmaster.-Early life:Fulton was born in England and educated at Trinity College, Dublin from 1788, graduating B.A. in 1792. In the late 1790s he was a clergyman in the Diocese of Killaloe, Ireland. Fulton became involved in the Irish Rebellion...
as a witness) and was tried by court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
in May 1811. Found guilty of mutiny he was sentenced to be cashiered. This extremely mild sentence in the circumstances could only have been imposed by a court convinced that he had been the tool of other people.
He returned to New South Wales as a private individual and lived on his land at Annandale, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He died much respected on 5 January 1823, leaving a large family. He was first interred in a private mausoleum on his Annandale property, until its subdivision to become the inner city suburb upon which his remains were moved to a new mausoleum at Waverley Cemetery
Waverley Cemetery
The Waverley Cemetery opened in 1877 and is a cemetery located on top of the cliffs at Bronte in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. It is noted for its largely intact Victorian and Edwardian monuments. The cemetery contains the graves of many significant Australians including the poet Henry Lawson and...
in 1904.