BARRINGTON, GEORGE (b. 1755), an Irishman with a curious history, was born at Maynooth on May the son of a working silversmith named Waldron. In 1771 he robbed his schoolmaster at Dublin and ran away from school, finally joining the manager of a touring theatrical company in pocket-picking. He came to London, where he continued his pocket-picking, and after serving several long terms of imprison ment, he was sentenced in 17 90 to seven years' transportation. On the voyage out to Botany bay a conspiracy was hatched by the convicts on board to seize the ship. Barrington disclosed the plot to the captain, and the latter, on reaching New South Wales, reported him favourably to the authorities, with the result that in 1792 Barrington obtained a warrant of emancipation (the first issued), becoming subsequently superintendent of con victs and later high constable of Paramatta. In 1796 a theatre was opened at Sydney, the principal actors being convicts, and Barrington wrote the prologue to the first production. The prologue contains the well-known lines: True patriots we, for, be it understood We left our country for the country's good.
Barrington died at a ripe old age at Paramatta, but the exact date is not on record. He was the author of A Voyage to Botany Bay (1801) ; The History of New South Wales (1802) ; The History of New Holland (18°8).
See Life, Times and Adventures of George Barrington (182o?), and The Genuine Life and Trial of George Barrington (179o) ; The Memoirs of George Barrington (179o) .