George Barrington (14 May 1755 – 27 December 1804) (real name Walden[1]) was an Irish pickpocket, popular London socialite, Australian pioneer (following his transportation to Botany Bay), and author.

"[5] In 1771 he robbed his schoolmaster at Dublin and ran away from school, becoming a member of a touring theatrical company at Drogheda under the assumed name of Barrington.

The manager was detected and sentenced to transportation, and Barrington fled to London, where he assumed clerical dress and continued his pickpocketing.

He was detected and arrested but, as Count Orlov declined to prosecute, was discharged, though subsequently he was sentenced to three years' hard labour for pocket-picking at Drury Lane theatre.

[6] Whatever doubts may exist about the authorship of the "Prologue", its most famous line has become an iconic part of Australian culture (for example, it is quoted in the film Breaker Morant and provides the title of the play Our Country's Good).