20 Facts About Charles Hotham

Captain Sir Charles Hotham was Lieutenant-Governor and, later, Governor of Victoria, Australia from 22 June 1854 to 10 November 1855.

Charles Hotham's father was Rev Frederick Hotham, prebendary of Rochester, and his mother was Anne Elizabeth.

Charles Hotham was appointed lieutenant-governor of Victoria on 6 December 1853 by the Duke of Newcastle.

Charles Hotham was received with great enthusiasm when he landed at Melbourne on 22 June 1854, and there appeared to be every prospect of his being a popular governor.

Charles Hotham wisely appointed a committee of two bankers and the auditor-general to inquire into the position, and this committee promptly advised the abolition of the "imprest" system.

Charles Hotham was governor at the time of the Eureka Stockade.

When Charles Hotham became lieutenant-governor, replacing La Trobe, he enforced mining licensing laws.

Charles Hotham was a naval officer who had been used to strict discipline, and though he eventually realised that the arrogance of the officials who were administering the law was largely responsible for the trouble, when, on 25 November 1854, a deputation waited on him to demand the release of some diggers who had been arrested, he took the firm stand that a properly worded memorial would receive consideration, but none could be given to "demands".

Charles Hotham was a principal Rebel, multilingual and better educated than most.

Charles Hotham was in no doubt that the man most responsible for the massacre was Lieutenant-Governor Charles Hotham.

Charles Hotham wrote that at that stage there was confidence about a resolution of the matter without bloodshed, but that was only because Hotham had told the miners and police and military, different things.

Charles Hotham directed that American Rebels, some of whom were very prominent, not be prosecuted.

Charles Hotham gave them an amnesty; but not quite all, the African American John Joseph was abandoned by Hotham and American officials.

Charles Hotham's post was raised to a full governorship on 3 February 1855.

In 1855, Charles Hotham had been endeavouring to carry out the views of his finance committee, and was receiving much criticism from a section of the press.

Charles Hotham was insistent that tenders for all works should be called through the Government Gazette, but not receiving support from the legislature, he ordered the stoppage of all constructional works.

Charles Hotham then sent in his resignation in November 1855, and in doing so, mentioned that his health had materially suffered.

Charles Hotham was conscientious, but he had little experience to help him in dealing with the exceptionally difficult problems of his period of governorship.

Charles Hotham has been severely criticized, but his work on the finances of the colony was of great value.

Charles Hotham was a character in the 1949 film Eureka Stockade.