George Johnston (New South Wales)

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.

He went to America with his regiment, and took part in the battle of Bunker's Hill, where he distinguished himself by seizing the colours, after the standard-bearer had been mortally wounded, and carrying them into action. During the fight his father received a wound in the breast, from which he subsequently died. Esteem for the father caused the Duke of Northumberland to become the guardian of the son, and the nobleman retained for him through life a keen personal interest.

The young officer had seen much active service against the French in the East Indies, and also on the coast of Africa, when he volunteered as an officer of the First Fleet, and came to New South Wales in 1788 with Governor Phillip holding the rank of "Captain-Lieutenant" of Marines.

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 lenient sentence imposed in these circumstances presumably indicates 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.