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 . Early life and military career . 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 went to America with his regiment , and took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill , where he distinguished himself by seizing the colours and carrying them into action after the standard - bearer had been mortally wounded . During the fight , his father received a chest wound , from which he subsequently died . The Duke of Northumberland , who had held Johnston ' s father in high regard , became Johnston ' s guardian , and throughout his life the nobleman retained a keen personal interest in his fortunes . The young officer subsequently served aboard in the East Indies in 1781 , suffering a severe wound in action against the French . Returned to garrison duty in Portsmouth , he volunteered to join the First Fleet in 1786 . He sailed for Australia aboard Fleet transport " Lady Penrhyn " in 1788 . On arrival in the colony Johnston served as adjutant to Governor Arthur Phillip , and was promoted in 1789 to the rank of Captain - Lieutenant of Marines . He transferred to the locally - raised New South Wales Corps in 1791 with the rank of captain . New South Wales . 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 the Georges River and Prospect Creek . This building still exists and is now one of Australia ' 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 John Hunter , and in 1800 received his brevet rank as major . In the same year Johnston was put under arrest by Lieutenant Governor William 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 a government in Australia ' s recorded history , the Rum Rebellion . Johnston led the troops that deposed Governor William Bligh , assumed the title of lieutenant - governor , and illegally suspended the judge - advocate and other officials . The administration of justice became farcical , and there were signs of strong discontent among the settlers . Johnston was promoted to the rank of 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 John 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 lenience of the sentence imposed in the circumstances presumably indicates that the court was convinced that he had been the tool of other people . Later life . Johnston 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 an inner city suburb . His remains were moved to a new mausoleum at Waverley Cemetery in 1904 .