George Johnston (c. 19 March 1764 – January 5, 1823) was Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales. March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1764 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Capital Sydney Government Const. ...

Johnson is thought to have been born at Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, on 19 March 1764 (H.R. of A., vol. VI, p. xxx). This may possibly have been a misprint, as he is also stated to have obtained a commission as second lieutenant of marines in 1776, and to have been promoted lieutenant in 1778. After service in America and the East Indies he 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. The town of Annan stands on the River Annan in the region of Dumfries and Galloway on the Solway Firth in the south of Scotland. ... Dumfriesshire (Siorrachd Dhùn Phris in Gaelic) was a county of Scotland. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - UK Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I 843  Area    - Total 78,772 km... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1764 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The First Fleet is the name given to the 11 ships which sailed from Great Britain in May 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales. ... Admiral Arthur Phillip (1786 portrait by Francis Wheatley, National Portrait Gallery, London) Admiral Arthur Phillip, RN (11 October 1738 – 31 August 1814) was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. ... The New South Wales Corps (also known as the Rum Corps and the Botany Bay Rangers) were the first foot soldiers to serve in Australia, in the then colony of New South Wales. ...

In September 1796 he was appointed aide-de-camp to Governor Hunter, and in 1800 received his brevet rank as major. In the same year he 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". He 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 he 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 mutinied at Castle Hill. When Paterson was sent to Port Dalrymple, Johnston became commander of the New South Wales Corps. On 26 January 1808 he 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. John Hunter, Naval pioneer and colonial governor Captain John Hunter (1737– to 1821) was a British naval officer and colonial administrator who succeeded Arthur Phillip as the second governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1795 to 1800. ... Colonel William Paterson (17 August 1755 – 21 June 1810) was a Scottish soldier, explorer, and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania. ... Philip Gidley King Naval pioneer and colonial governor Captain Philip Gidley King RN (23 April 1758 – 3 September 1808) was an English naval officer and colonial administrator. ... A cartoon of the Irish rebellion some years later The Castle Hill Rebellion of 4 March 1804, also called the Irish Rebellion and the Battle of Vinegar Hill, was Australias only successful large-scale convict rebellion. ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... William Bligh in 1814 Vice-Admiral William Bligh FRS RN (9 September 1754 – 7 December 1817) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator. ...

Johnston was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 25 April 1808, and was superseded by his senior officer Foveaux on 28 July. He sailed for England with Macarthur in March 1809, 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. April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (116th in leap years). ... 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Annandale is a suburb of Sydney, Australia, located in the Inner West; Glebe lies to its east, Leichhardt to its west, Stanmore to its south and its northern end terminates at the back of Rozelle Bay, part of Sydney Harbour. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia with a metropolitan area population of over 4. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

References

• Serle, Percival. (1949). "Johnston, George". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
• A. T. Yarwood, 'Johnston, George (1764 - 1823)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, MUP, 1967, pp 20-22.