John Giles Price | |
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| Born | 20 October 1808 Trengwainton, Cornwall, England |
| Died | 27 March 1857 Williamstown, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Colonial administrator |
John Giles Price (20 October 1808 – 27 March 1857),[1] was a colonial administrator in Australia. He served as the Civil Commandant of the convict settlement at Norfolk Island from August 1846 to January 1853, and later as Inspector-General of penal establishments in Victoria, during which he was "stoned to death" by angry and disgruntled prisoners.[2]
Price had aristocratic connections which aided him in securing the position. Although he was initially seen as restoring order after an incompetent predecessor, Price scoffed at the idea of rehabilitation for convicts. An enthusiasm for flogging for trivial breaches of discipline and extreme corporal punishments of his own devising led to his regime being denounced. He left to farm, but was given responsibility for another prison in which his strongly punitive measures provoked a violent reaction.
- ^ Mennell, Philip (1892). . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
- ^ C. J. Coventry (2019). "Links in the Chain: British slavery, Victoria and South Australia". Before / Now. 1 (1): 34. Retrieved 14 June 2021.