WILLIAM BLIGH (1774)

English admiral who was captain of "Bounty" at the time of the celebrated mutiny.

Entering the navy in 1762, he was appointed to the command of the 215-ton "Bounty" in 1787, when the vessel was being used in a scheme for transplanting breadfruit trees from Tahiti to the West Indies. Having sailed from Tahiti as far as the Friendly Islands (Tonga), the ship was suddenly seized by Fletcher Christian, the master´s mate, on April 28, 1789, and Bligh and 18 others were turned adrift in the longboat.

The causes of the mutiny have been much discussed. Bligh said that the crew "had assured themselves of a more happy life among the Otaheitans than they could possibly have in England, which, joined to some female connections, has most likely been the leading cause of the whole business".

Bligh eventually reached Timor in the East Indies on June 14, 1789, after a remarkable voyage of nearly 4,000 miles in an open boat. Christian and eight others took the "Bounty" to Pitcairns Island, where the small colony they founded was undiscovered until 1808 and where their descendants still reside. Of the mutineers who later went to Tahiti, three were taken to England and hanged.

The mutiny made little difference to Bligh´s career. He visited Tahiti again and successfully transported more breadfruit trees to the West Indies (1792). As captain of the "Director", he was put ashore when his crew joined the crew of the "Nore" (1797) in another mutiny. He commanded this ship with distinction at the battle of Camperdown that year, however, as he did the "Glatton" at Copenhagen (1801). He was sent to New South Wales as governor in 1805. Again, complaints of his "oppresive behaviour" led in 1808 to a mutiny, this time under the deputy governor of the province, George Johnston, who sent Bligh to England under arrest. The mutineers were subsequently found guilty of conspiracy. Bligh was later promoted to rear admiral (1811) and vice admiral (1814).

Bligh´s character has been variously interpreted. He has been portrayed as cruel and tyrannical. On the other hand, some have seen him merely as overzealous and overbearing.