George Bain Johnston

George Bain Johnston was born at Cockenzie, in the county of Haddington, Scotland, and was educated at Steel's Hospital in the parish of Tranent.

He was one of a group of Scotsmen who left Scotland in 1853 as one of the crew of the Lioness, a small River Mersey steamer of 70 tons register, which was purchased by Cadell to be used for towing purposes in Port Melbourne.

These ladies had booked their passages in the Great Britain, but prior to sailing this vessel was commandeered by the British authorities for service as a troop ship in connection with the Indian mutiny.

The residents celebrated his arrival with a banquet and presented him with a purse of one hundred sovereigns, with which a suitable cup was bought and engraved to commemorate the occasion.

Johnston returned to Scotland to superintend the building of a paddle steamer, the Murray, which was brought out under canvas by Richard Barry, Capt.

He was a strong swimmer, and was reckoned to have saved from drowning no less than fourteen lives, among them a Mrs. Padman and her daughter,[10] and was honored with a medal from the Royal Humane Society.

Children of George and Elizabeth included: Peter Johnston, a brother, (1826 – 2 June 1881) died of exposure after falling from the steamer Cadell at the Goolwa wharf.