George Elliott Barton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Elliott Barton (20 May 1829 – 31 May 1903)[1] was a 19th-century lawyer and practised as a barrister in Dublin (Ireland), Melbourne (Victoria), Dunedin & Wellington (New Zealand), Sydney (New South Wales). He was appointed a judge in Dunedin and Wellington, New Zealand.[2]
George Barton married Jane Crichton Campbell, eldest daughter of the Rev. Dr. Campbell of London, on 8 April 1854 at Melbourne, Victoria.[3] Their first child, a son, Elliott L'Estrange Barton (solicitor Patea & Hawera; Mayor Hawera), was born 13 July 1856 at South Yarra, Victoria.[4] Their second child, another son, Edward Gustavus Campbell Barton (electrical engineer, Brisbane) was born 11 December 1857 at South Yarra.[5] He died in Paris, France, on 31 May 1903.[6] There appears to have been a daughter Anna who lived to adulthood.
Professional life
General
An Irish Protestant, he was described as a hot-tempered and an "exciteable Irishman" and was the subject of the "Barton Affair" of 1876-78 when he was imprisoned for a month (lawyers were usually fined) for contempt of court by Chief Justice James Prendergast (who he had probably met in the Victorian goldfields).[7] He was known as "little Barton" to distinguish him from George Burnett Barton or "long Barton" (unrelated) who was also a lawyer and the editor of the Otago Daily Times.[8]
Australia
Barton was selected to represent the 'working classes' in the district of North Melbourne for the 1859 general election, which he won.[9][10] He was particularly concerned with introducing the payment of members of parliament.[11]
New Zealand
He was appointed a judge of the Native Land Court in 1888, but according to Morris resigned and left New Zealand in 1890 following a feud with a fellow judge, dying in Paris in 1903 (although Wilson says he died in 1906).
