John Giles Price (commandant)
Encyclopedia
John Giles Price magistrate and penal administrator, was the only civilian to command the second convict settlement at Norfolk Island
, being in charge from 6 August 1846 to 18 January 1853.
He was the son of a minor baronet, studied at Oxford without taking a degree, and arrived in Hobart
, Van Diemen's Land
in May 1836 with letters of introduction from influential relatives. There he farmed in the Huon River
district and married Mary, the ward of Sir John Franklin
, lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1836 to 1843.
In 1839 Price was appointed muster master of convict
s and stipendiary magistrate. Being in close contact with the convicts he gained a knowledge of their ways and language. It is claimed by a critic, Reverend Thomas Rogers, that he would disguise himself as a constable and move around Hobart, seeking disorderly characters. Hazzard claims that "he seemed to know, with terrifying accuracy, the way a criminal's mind worked, and this, coupled with his merciless administering of the Law, gave him an almost hypnotic power over them".
In 1846 he suffered a mystery illness and was recommended by his doctor to take leave of absence. However, he was appointed commandant of Norfolk Island in July of that year, to replace Major Joseph Childs, and the leave was never taken.
One of his first duties was to arrange for the trial of 26 convicts alleged to have been involved in murders during the revolt of July 1846 at the end of Childs' administration. Twelve convicts were hanged in October, and five others shortly after.
During his first years, Price's actions were staunchly supported by Governor Denison
, but by 1852 he expressed regret at the extent to which corporal punishment
was used. Price justified his actions by pointing out that he was responsible for the worst convicts, those of most dangerous and vicious character, who being "reckless of future consequences", mocked persuasion and advice, and laughed at sentences in irons. As Price did not have sufficient cells for solitary confinement, "what then remains but to have recourse to the scourge?" Having been driven to corporal punishment, he claimed "that it has had a beneficial effect I have no hesitation in asserting".
Hughes' claims that, in Hobart "the suspicion that the commandant was out of control, that the island's remoteness from Hobart had permitted some cancer of his soul to metastasis
e wildly, could not entirely be allayed". He hints at a connection between Price's unspecified illness in 1846, and "the morbid ferocities of his rule".
Price has been praised for his firmness and denounced for his harshness. He "ruled by terror, informers and the lash" according to Hughes. A contemporary historian noted the "merciless exercise of his authority". Rev. Thomas Rogers provided "cogent evidence that Price was guilty of grave cruelty and abuse of power" in his reports on Norfolk Island published in 1849. Bishop Robert Willson, following his third visit to the island in 1852, described the harsh punishment of the convicts. He observed "the state of the yard, from the blood running down men's backs, mingled with the water used in washing them when taken down from the triangle - the degrading scene of a large number of men … waiting their turn to be tortured, and the more humiliating spectacle presented by those who had undergone the scourging … were painful to listen to". When Willson asked Price to explain the increased use of corporal punishment, the commandant "defended his use of flogging, to which he professed great aversion, as necessary to enforce obedience to regulations, especially those controlling the use of tobacco".
In all accounts of Price's rule, only Principal Overseer Aaron Price (no relation) had a positive view, noting on the commandant's departure that "a kind of melancholy dejection is apparent [among the officers who witnessed his departure]. He is good and I must mark the general marked opinion of the gentlemanly deportment in his public and private life".
Price returned to Hobart in January 1853 as the British government intended to abandon Norfolk Island. He was appointed inspector-general of prisons in Victoria
in January 1854, to deal with the problem of crime arising from the gold rush
es in that colony.
On 26 March 1857, while investigating complaints by convicts employed on public works at Williamstown
, he was struck by missiles, knocked down and severely battered. He died next day, and following the inquest
, fifteen convicts were tried for murder, seven being hanged
.
After his death Price has, in Hughes' opinion "remained one of the durable ogres of the Australian imagination", featuring in Price Warung's tales and as the basis for the cruel commandant Maurice Frere in Marcus Clarke
's For the Term of his Natural Life
(1885). Hazzard calls him "a rock of a man against whom some might lean with confidence; others he might crush without pity", while his biographer concludes that "he was a man of great personal strength and considerable courage, and was capable of sentimental as well as merciless deeds".
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...
, being in charge from 6 August 1846 to 18 January 1853.
He was the son of a minor baronet, studied at Oxford without taking a degree, and arrived in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
in May 1836 with letters of introduction from influential relatives. There he farmed in the Huon River
Huon River
The Huon River is the fourth largest river in Tasmania, Australia. It is 170 km in length, and runs through the fertile Huon Valley. From Scotts Peak Dam at Lake Pedder where it begins, it flows south-east to the Tahune Airwalk, where the Picton River joins, before heading through the rural...
district and married Mary, the ward of Sir John Franklin
John Franklin
Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin KCH FRGS RN was a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. Franklin also served as governor of Tasmania for several years. In his last expedition, he disappeared while attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic...
, lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1836 to 1843.
In 1839 Price was appointed muster master of convict
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
s and stipendiary magistrate. Being in close contact with the convicts he gained a knowledge of their ways and language. It is claimed by a critic, Reverend Thomas Rogers, that he would disguise himself as a constable and move around Hobart, seeking disorderly characters. Hazzard claims that "he seemed to know, with terrifying accuracy, the way a criminal's mind worked, and this, coupled with his merciless administering of the Law, gave him an almost hypnotic power over them".
In 1846 he suffered a mystery illness and was recommended by his doctor to take leave of absence. However, he was appointed commandant of Norfolk Island in July of that year, to replace Major Joseph Childs, and the leave was never taken.
One of his first duties was to arrange for the trial of 26 convicts alleged to have been involved in murders during the revolt of July 1846 at the end of Childs' administration. Twelve convicts were hanged in October, and five others shortly after.
During his first years, Price's actions were staunchly supported by Governor Denison
William Denison
Sir William Thomas Denison, KCB was Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1847 to 1855, Governor of New South Wales from 20 January 1855 to 22 January 1861, and Governor of Madras from 1861 to 1866....
, but by 1852 he expressed regret at the extent to which corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
was used. Price justified his actions by pointing out that he was responsible for the worst convicts, those of most dangerous and vicious character, who being "reckless of future consequences", mocked persuasion and advice, and laughed at sentences in irons. As Price did not have sufficient cells for solitary confinement, "what then remains but to have recourse to the scourge?" Having been driven to corporal punishment, he claimed "that it has had a beneficial effect I have no hesitation in asserting".
Hughes' claims that, in Hobart "the suspicion that the commandant was out of control, that the island's remoteness from Hobart had permitted some cancer of his soul to metastasis
Metastasis
Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research...
e wildly, could not entirely be allayed". He hints at a connection between Price's unspecified illness in 1846, and "the morbid ferocities of his rule".
Price has been praised for his firmness and denounced for his harshness. He "ruled by terror, informers and the lash" according to Hughes. A contemporary historian noted the "merciless exercise of his authority". Rev. Thomas Rogers provided "cogent evidence that Price was guilty of grave cruelty and abuse of power" in his reports on Norfolk Island published in 1849. Bishop Robert Willson, following his third visit to the island in 1852, described the harsh punishment of the convicts. He observed "the state of the yard, from the blood running down men's backs, mingled with the water used in washing them when taken down from the triangle - the degrading scene of a large number of men … waiting their turn to be tortured, and the more humiliating spectacle presented by those who had undergone the scourging … were painful to listen to". When Willson asked Price to explain the increased use of corporal punishment, the commandant "defended his use of flogging, to which he professed great aversion, as necessary to enforce obedience to regulations, especially those controlling the use of tobacco".
In all accounts of Price's rule, only Principal Overseer Aaron Price (no relation) had a positive view, noting on the commandant's departure that "a kind of melancholy dejection is apparent [among the officers who witnessed his departure]. He is good and I must mark the general marked opinion of the gentlemanly deportment in his public and private life".
Price returned to Hobart in January 1853 as the British government intended to abandon Norfolk Island. He was appointed inspector-general of prisons in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in January 1854, to deal with the problem of crime arising from the gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
es in that colony.
On 26 March 1857, while investigating complaints by convicts employed on public works at Williamstown
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
, he was struck by missiles, knocked down and severely battered. He died next day, and following the inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
, fifteen convicts were tried for murder, seven being hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
.
After his death Price has, in Hughes' opinion "remained one of the durable ogres of the Australian imagination", featuring in Price Warung's tales and as the basis for the cruel commandant Maurice Frere in Marcus Clarke
Marcus Clarke
Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke was an Australian novelist and poet, best known for his novel For the Term of his Natural Life.- Biography :...
's For the Term of his Natural Life
For the Term of his Natural Life
For the Term of His Natural Life, written by Marcus Clarke, was published in the Australian Journal between 1870 and 1872 , appearing as a novel in 1874. It is the best known novelisation of life as a convict in early Australian history...
(1885). Hazzard calls him "a rock of a man against whom some might lean with confidence; others he might crush without pity", while his biographer concludes that "he was a man of great personal strength and considerable courage, and was capable of sentimental as well as merciless deeds".