George Essex Hampton was an unpopular public official in colonial Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

.

The son of Governor of Western Australia

Governor of Western Australia

The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...

 Dr John Hampton

John Hampton

John Stephen Hampton was Governor of Western Australia from 1862 to 1868.-Early life:Little is known of John Hampton's early life. His death certificate states that he was born in 1810, but other evidence suggests 1806 or perhaps 1807; these latter figures are considered more likely...

, George Hampton arrived in the colony with his father in February 1862 on board the Stathallen. In 1866 he was holding the offices of private secretary to his father, clerk of council and member of the Finance Board, when he was in addition appointed acting Comptroller General of Convicts

Comptroller General of Convicts (Western Australia)

The Comptroller General of Convicts was the head of the convict establishment in Western Australia.The office existed from 1850, when Western Australia first became a penal colony, until 1872, four years after penal transportation to Western Australia had ceased.-History:Western Australia's first...

. As Hampton had no particular qualifications for the position, this "unusually blatant act of nepotism"¹ was extremely unpopular within the colony. It was further rumoured that George Hampton received a lodging allowance for the position, an allowance to which he was entitled by regulations but did not need since he lived with his father at Government House

Government House, Perth

Government House in Perth is the official residence of the governor of Western Australia and was built between 1859 and 1864. The buildings and gardens are listed on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places and are open to the public from time to time.-Description:The building is a two...

. The Perth Gazette

The West Australian

The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...

sarcastically commented that Hampton could not apply the money to the purpose for which is was granted "unless His Excellency intends to charge him rent for the rooms he occupies in his residence, in which case, of course, the amount will be placed to the credit of the colonial revenue."²  Both Hamptons became figures of public hostility and ridicule thereafter, especially George.

Under George Hampton, convict discipline became extremely harsh; floggings

Flagellation

Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok...

 became commonplace and solitary confinement

Solitary confinement

Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...

 was reintroduced. He was hated by most convicts, and in October 1866 a convict named Connor attacked him with a pickaxe at the Fremantle Quarries, and only the swift action of a guard saved him. As a result of Hampton's harsh convict discipline, escape attempts increased markedly. When Moondyne Joe

Moondyne Joe

Joseph Bolitho Johns , better known as Moondyne Joe, was Western Australia's best known bushranger.- Biography :...

 effected his famous escape of 7 March 1867, the public in general felt that a good joke had been played on the Governor and his son, and much pleasure was taken in ridiculing them. A song caught on:

The Governor's son has got the pip,

The Governor's got the measles.

For Moondyne Joe has give 'em the slip,

Pop goes the weasel.

Governor Hampton lobbied for his son to be confirmed in his acting position, but was unsuccessful. At the conclusion of Governor Hampton's term, George Hampton indicated his willingness to remain in the colony provided he was official appointed Comptroller General. A week later the appointment of Henry Wakefield

Henry Wakefield

Henry Wakefield was a medieval Bishop of Worcester.He was elected on 12 September 1375 and consecrated on 28 October 1375.He briefly served as Lord High Treasurer in 1377.He died on 11 March 1395.-References:...

 was announced, and in November 1868 he accompanied his father in departing the colony on the Emily Smith.

Little is known of Hampton's personal life. In 1865, Bishop Hale

Matthew Blagden Hale

Matthew Blagden Hale was the first Bishop of Perth and then the Bishop of Brisbane.Born in Alderley, Gloucestershire, England, Matthew Hale was the son of Robert and Lady Theodosia . His maternal grandfather was The Earl of Mayo, Lord Archbishop of Tuam...

 had been openly critical of his "romantic affair with a Mrs Young" ³. On 13 June 1868, he married Fanny Stone, and she accompanied him back to England. He died in 1876.