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Engraving from the Illustrated Melbourne Post
John Gilbert John Gilbert i(A103965 works by) (a.k.a. Jack Gilbert)
Born: Established: ca. 1842 Hamilton, Ontario,
c
Canada,
c
Americas, ; Died: Ceased: 13 May 1865 Binalong, Yass area, Canberra region (NSW), Southeastern NSW, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1855
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BiographyHistory

Bushranger.

John Gilbert was member of Ben Hall's gang. Born in Canada, he travelled to the Victorian goldfields with his family when he was ten years old, arriving in Port Phillip in 1852. A slight man nicknamed 'Happy Jack', he was known as an excellent horseman.

After Hall was controversially shot in 5 May 1865, the gang split up, and Gilbert and John Dunn headed to Binalong, where Dunn had family. Gilbert was shot on 13 May 1865 by troopers who had surrounded the home of John Kelly, Dunn's grandfather. (Dunn escaped, but was caught and subsequently hanged on 19 March 1866.)

John Gilbert's fame rests on his association with Ben Hall. He is mentioned in a number of folksongs about Hall. However, he has also been the subject of works in his own right, including at least one biography.

Most Referenced Works

Last amended 22 Nov 2016 10:16:28
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