Profession: Naval Commander
Why Famous: William Bligh was the commander of a British naval expedition to procure a source of food to feed slaves in the Caribbean plantations, breadfruit from Tahiti in the South Pacific.
On their return voyage, Bligh's men were so enraged by their commander's antagonistic attitude, he in turn believed them incompetent, that a mutiny led by Fletcher Christian occurred 3 weeks into their voyage.
Bligh and 18 men were turfed into a 6-metre launch and then made the remarkable 5,800 kilometer voyage to Timor.
Bligh did go on to further commands, disastrously he served as Governor of New South Wales 1806-08 and his abusive attitudes helped spark the Rum Rebellion and he was removed from his post.
Born: September 9, 1754
Birthplace: Plymouth, Great Britain
Star Sign: Virgo
Died: December 7, 1817 (aged 63)
Articles and Photos
Mutiny On The Bounty
William Bligh, born on this day, became known as a sadistic sea captain who drove his men to the Mutiny on the Bounty. But was he in fact a victim of fiction?
September 9, 1754How Australia Was Born
Captain Arthur Phillip commanded a fleet of British ships carrying convicts to New South Wales on this day, effectively founding the British colony of Australia.
May 13, 1787Mutiny on the Bounty
Lieutenant William Bligh is set adrift by the mutineers aboard the HMS Bounty on April 28, 1789
April 28, 1789
Historical Events
- 1789-04-28 Fletcher Christian leads a mutiny on HMS Bounty against its captain William Bligh in the South Pacific
- 1789-06-14 Captain William Bligh and his loyal men cast off from HMS Bounty reach Timor, after sailing 5,800 km in a 6-metre launch
- 1804-01-31 British vice-admiral William Blighs fleet reaches Curacao
- 1804-02-26 Vice-admiral William Bligh (of Bounty fame) ends siege of Fort Amsterdam, Willemstad
Biographies and Sources
- William Bligh | What happened to Captain Bligh of the Bounty? - Royal Museums Greenwich
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