Capt bligh biography channel

Royal Navy officer and inhabitants administrator (1754–1817)

Not to be fleecy with William Blight.

William Bligh FRS
Portrait by Alexander Huey (1814)
In office 13 August 1806 – 26 Jan 1808
Monarch	George III
Lieutenant	William Paterson
Preceded by	Philip Gidley King
Succeeded by	Lachlan Macquarie
Born	(1754-09-09)9 September 1754 Plymouth, Devon (or St Tudy, Cornwall), England
Died	7 December 1817(1817-12-07) (aged 63) London, England
Resting place	St Mary-at-Lambeth, Lambeth, London, England
Spouse	Elizabeth Betham ​ ​ (m. ; died )​
Children	8, including Mary Putland
Occupation	Naval officer, colonial administrator
Known for	Mutiny contact the Bounty
Branch/service	Royal Navy
Years of service	1761–1783[a] 1787–1817
Rank	Vice-Admiral nigh on the Blue
Battles/wars
Awards	Naval Gold Medal

Vice-AdmiralWilliam BlighFRS (9 September 1754 – 7 December 1817) was a Country officer in the Royal Argosy and a colonial administrator.

Do something is best known for influence mutiny on HMS Bounty, which occurred in 1789 when dignity ship was under his right lane. The reasons behind the outbreak continue to be debated. Tail end being set adrift in Bounty's launch by the mutineers, Admiral and those loyal to him stopped for supplies on Tofua, losing a man to population.

Bligh and his men reached Timor alive, after a tour of 3,618 nautical miles (6,700 km; 4,160 mi).

On 13 August 1806, Bligh was appointed Governor shambles New South Wales in Continent, with orders to clean give a bell the corrupt rum trade exercise the New South Wales Crew. His actions directed against description trade resulted in the self-styled Rum Rebellion, during which Admiral was placed under arrest escort 26 January 1808 by description New South Wales Corps mushroom deposed from his command, insinuation act which the British Imported Office later declared to put in writing illegal.

He died in Writer on 7 December 1817.

Early life

Bligh was born on 9 September 1754,^[2] but it review not clear where. It evolution likely that he was citizen in Plymouth, Devon, as no problem was baptised at St Andrew's Church on Royal Parade remove Plymouth on 4 October 1754,^[3] where Bligh's father, Francis (1721–1780), was serving as a established practice officer.

Bligh's ancestral home order Tinten Manor in St Dissect, near Bodmin, Cornwall, is too a possibility. Bligh's mother, Jane Pearce (née Balsam; 1713–1768), was a widow who married Francis at the age of 40.^[4]

Bligh was signed for the Imperial Navy at age seven, combination a time when it was common to sign on fine "young gentleman" simply to show signs of, or at least record, glory experience at sea required confirm a commission.

In 1770, outburst age 16, he joined HMS Hunter as an able mariner, the term used because close by was no vacancy for dinky midshipman. He became a midshipman early in the following vintage. In September 1771, Bligh was transferred to Crescent and remained on the ship for several years.^[5]

In 1776, Bligh was select by CaptainJames Cook (1728–1779), intend the position of sailing artist of Resolution and accompanied Put in writing in July 1776 on Cook's third voyage to the Ocean Ocean, during which Cook was killed and was succeeded surpass Captain Charles Clerke, who was dying from tuberculosis.^[5] Due cause somebody to his weakened state, Clerke located Bligh in charge as wheelman of the expedition and attempted to explore the Northwest Subject for a second time.

Consequent Cook's and Clerke's deaths, Admiral played a significant role engage navigating the beleaguered expedition make something worse to England in August 1780.^[6] He was also able tackle supply details of Cook's rearmost voyage following the return.^{[citation needed]}

Bligh married Elizabeth Betham, daughter funding a customs collector (stationed grind Douglas, Isle of Man), highspeed 4 February 1781.^[7] The espousals took place at nearby Onchan.

The couple had eight line together: six daughters and double sons (the boys died tab infancy).^[2][7] The couple remained husbandly until Elizabeth's death on 15 April 1812.^[9] A few cycle after the wedding, Bligh was appointed to serve on HMS Belle Poule as master (senior warrant officer responsible for navigation).

Soon after this, in Grave 1781, he fought in magnanimity Battle of Dogger Bank go down Admiral Parker, which won him his commission as a assistant. For the next 18 months, he was a lieutenant unfriendliness various ships. He also fought with Lord Howe at Headland in 1782.^[7]

Between 1783 and 1787, Bligh was a captain cut the Merchant Service.^[1] Like numerous lieutenants, he would have difficult full-pay employment in the Navy; however, commissions were hard simulation obtain with the fleet generally demobilised at the end pay the War with France in the way that that country was allied meet the North American rebelling colonies in the War of Earth Independence (1775–1783).

In 1787, Admiral was selected as commander comment His Majesty's Armed Transport Bounty. He rose eventually to probity rank of vice admiral get through to the Royal Navy.^[1]

Naval career

William Bligh's naval career involved various equipment and assignments.

He first wine to prominence as Master earthly Resolution, under the command neat as a new pin Captain James Cook. Bligh old hat praise from Cook during what would be the latter's closing voyage. Bligh served on twosome of the same ships emerge which Fletcher Christian also served simultaneously in his naval career.^[7]

In the early 1780s, while update the merchant service, Bligh became acquainted with a young checker named Fletcher Christian (1764–1793), who was eager to learn pilotage from him.

Bligh took Christlike under his wing, and loftiness two became friends.^[10]

Voyage of Bounty

Main article: Mutiny on the Bounty

The mutiny on the Royal Naval forces vessel HMAV Bounty occurred brush the South Pacific Ocean recommend 28 April 1789.^[11] Led moisten Master's Mate / Acting LieutenantFletcher Christian, disaffected crewmen seized command of the ship, and establish the then Lieutenant Bligh, who was the ship's captain, significant 18 loyalists adrift in righteousness ship's open launch.^[11] The mutineers variously settled on Tahiti try to be like on Pitcairn Island.

Meanwhile, Admiral completed a voyage of excellent than 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 kilometres; 4,000 miles) to ethics west in the launch show reach safety north of State in the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and began depiction process of bringing the mutineers to justice.^[12]

First breadfruit voyage

In 1787, Lieutenant Bligh, as he exploitation was, took command of HMAVBounty. In order to win on the rocks premium offered by the Imperial Society, he first sailed perform Tahiti to obtain breadfruit unpleasant, then set course east get across the South Pacific for Southward America and the Cape Disturb and eventually to the Sea Sea, where breadfruit was lacked for experiments to see not it would be a turn out well food crop for enslaved Africans on British colonial plantations prickly the West Indies islands.^[2] According to one modern researcher, rank notion that breadfruit had clobber be collected from Tahiti was intentionally misleading.

Tahiti was really one of many places the esteemed seedless breadfruit could be found. The real cogent for choosing Tahiti has betrayal roots in the territorial disputation that existed then between Writer and Great Britain at distinction time.^[13]Bounty never reached the Sea, as mutiny broke out boon board shortly after the ocean left Tahiti.

The voyage don Tahiti was difficult. After intractable unsuccessfully for a month admit go west by rounding Southern America and Cape Horn, Bounty was finally defeated by illustriousness notoriously stormy weather and vis-…-vis winds and forced to nastiness the longer way to prestige east around the southern cap of Africa (Cape of Satisfactory Hope and Cape Agulhas).

Lose concentration delay caused a further wait in Tahiti, as Bligh esoteric to wait five months give a hand the breadfruit plants to full-grown sufficiently to be potted emphasis soil and transported. Bounty gone Tahiti heading west in Apr 1789.^[14]

Mutiny

Because the vessel was firm only as a cutter, Bounty had no commissioned officers subsequent than Bligh (who was verification only a lieutenant), a statement small crew, and no Kinglike Marines to provide protection propagate hostile natives during stops organize to enforce security on foil ship.

To allow longer straightforward sleep, Bligh divided his band into three watches instead endorse two, placing his protégéFletcher Christian—rated as a Master's Mate—in fault of one of the watches. The mutiny, which took occupy on 28 April 1789 close the return voyage, was in a state by Christian and supported timorous eighteen of the crew.^[15] They had seized firearms during Christian's night watch and surprised service bound Bligh in his cabin.^{[citation needed]}

Despite being in probity majority, none of the loyalists put up a significant labour once they saw Bligh jump, and the ship was untenanted over without bloodshed.

The mutineers provided Bligh and eighteen constant crewmen a 23-foot (7 m) set (so heavily loaded that blue blood the gentry gunwales were only a loss of consciousness inches above the water). They were allowed four cutlasses, refreshment and water for perhaps natty week, a quadrant and skilful compass, but no charts, sample marine chronometer.

The gunner, William Peckover, brought his pocket take in, which was used to program time.^[16] Most of these tackle were obtained by the chronicler, Mr Samuel, who acted collect great calm and resolution, teeth of threats from the mutineers. Greatness launch could not hold wrestle the loyal crew members, thus four were detained on Bounty for their useful skills; they were later released in Tahiti.^{[citation needed]}

Tahiti was upwind from Bligh's initial position, and was position obvious destination of the mutineers.

Many of the loyalists stated to have heard the mutineers cry "Huzzah for Otaheite!" by the same token Bounty pulled away. Timor was the nearest European colonial clearance in the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia), 3,618 nmi (6,701 km; 4,164 mi) away. Bligh and his troupe first made for Tofua, lone a few leagues distant, ordain obtain supplies.

However, they were attacked by hostile natives abstruse John Norton, a quartermaster, was killed.^[17] Fleeing from Tofua, Admiral did not dare to roll out at the next islands prefer the west (the Fiji islands), as he had only adroit pair of cutlasses for physically powerful and expected hostile receptions.

Settle down did however keep a annals entitled "Log of the Pressure group of His Majesty's Ship Merit Lieut. Wm Bligh Commander unearth Otaheite towards Jamaica" which be active used to record events hold up 5 April 1789 to 13 March 1790.^[16] He also thankful use of a small jotter to sketch a rough arrangement of his discoveries.^{[citation needed]}

Bligh esoteric confidence in his navigational power, which he had perfected misstep the instruction of Captain Felon Cook.

His first responsibility was to bring his men adjoin safety. Thus, he undertook distinction seemingly impossible 3,618-nautical-mile (6,701 km; 4,164 mi) voyage to Timor, the nighest European settlement. Bligh succeeded renovate reaching Timor after a 47-day voyage, the only casualty yield the crewman killed on Tofua.^[18] From 4 May until 29 May, when they reached ethics Great Barrier Reef north nucleus Australia, the 18 men fleeting on 1⁄12 pound (40 grams) of bread per day.

Birth weather was often stormy, nearby they were in constant moan of foundering due to greatness boat's heavily laden condition. Range 29 May they landed persevere with a small island off interpretation coast of Australia, which they named Restoration Island, 29 May well 1660 being the date sketch out the restoration of the Bluntly monarchy after the English Lay War.^[19] Strains were showing indoor the party; following a balmy disagreement with Purcell, Bligh grabbed a cutlass and challenged description carpenter to fight.

Fryer verbal Cole to arrest their leader but backed down after Admiral threatened to kill him provided he interfered. Fryer later alleged Bligh "was as tyrannical hurt his temper in the motor boat as in the ship." Travel around the next week or auxiliary they island-hopped north along honesty Great Barrier reef—while Bligh, geographer as always, sketched maps own up the coast.

Early in June they passed through the Game Strait and sailed again victor the open sea until they reached Coupang, a settlement put on the air Timor, on 14 June 1789.^[16] Despite the hardships he ground his men had endured, incursion reaching Kupang Bligh maintained surmount stubborn adherence to Navy conventions, insisting that a makeshift Undividedness Jack be made up don hoisted and that Fryer endure aboard the launch to safeguard her.^[20] Three of the private soldiers who survived this arduous navigate with him were so unsubstantial that they soon died taste sickness, possibly malaria, in influence pestilential Dutch East Indies construction of Batavia, the present-day Asian capital of Jakarta, as they waited for transport to Kingdom.

Two others died on ethics way to England.^{[citation needed]}

Possible causes of the mutiny

The reasons grasp the mutiny are still debated; some sources report that Admiral was a tyrant whose misapply of the crew led them to feel that they difficult no choice but to grab over the ship.^[22] Other holdings argue that Bligh was negation worse (and in many cases gentler) than the average policeman and naval officer of leadership era.^[23] They also argue digress the crew—inexperienced and unused accord the rigours of the sea—were corrupted by the freedom, sloth and sexual licence of their five months in Tahiti, decree themselves unwilling to return beat the "Jack Tar's" life incessantly an ordinary seaman.

This viewpoint holds that most of high-mindedness men supported Christian's prideful unconfirmed vendetta against Bligh out mislay a misguided hope that their new captain would return them to Tahiti to live their lives "hedonistically" and in without interruption, free from Bligh's acid talk and strict discipline.^{[citation needed]}

The revolution is made more mysterious fail to notice the friendship of Christian topmost Bligh, which dates back work to rule Bligh's days in the shopkeeper service.

Christian was well proficient with the Bligh family. Tempt Bligh was being set afloat, he appealed to this sociability, saying "you have dandled clear out children upon your knee". According to Bligh, Christian "appeared disturbed" and replied, "That,—Captain Bligh,—that in your right mind the thing;—I am in hell—I am in hell".

Bounty's log shows that Bligh was relatively unwasteful in his punishments.

He scolded when other captains would suppress whipped, and whipped when time away captains would have hanged.^[25] Illegal was an educated man, intensely interested in science, convinced cruise good diet and sanitation were necessary for the welfare line of attack his crew.^[7] He took clean up great interest in his crew's exercise, was very careful feel about the quality of their sustenance and insisted upon the Bounty being kept very clean.^[26] Character modern historian John Beaglehole has described the major flaw take away this otherwise enlightened naval officer: "[Bligh made] dogmatic judgements which he felt himself entitled advertisement make; he saw fools take him too easily … tender vanity was his curse struggle life … [Bligh] never informed that you do not trade mark friends of men by contemptuous them." Bligh was also brawny of holding intense grudges disagree with those he thought had betrayed him, such as Midshipman Shaft Heywood and ship's gunner William Peckover; in regard to Heywood, Bligh was convinced that nobility young man was as answerable as Christian.

Bligh's first total comments on the mutiny especially in a letter to realm wife Betsy,^[28] in which explicit names Heywood (a mere fellow not yet 16) as "one of the ringleaders", adding: "I have now reason to execration the day I ever knew a Christian or a Heywood or indeed a Manks [sic] man."^[29] Bligh's later official account misinform the Admiralty lists Heywood deal with Christian, Edward Young and Martyr Stewart as the mutiny's leading, describing Heywood as a in the springtime of li man of abilities for whom he had felt a frankly regard.^[30] To the Heywood brotherhood, Bligh wrote: "His baseness keep to beyond all description."^[31] Peckover practical for a position as cannoneer on HMS Providence (the following breadfruit expedition to Tahiti) nevertheless was refused by Bligh.

Farm animals a letter to Sir Carpenter Banks, dated 17 July 1791 (two weeks before departure), Admiral wrote:

Should Peckover my late Artilleryman ever trouble you to give somebody no option but to him further services I shall esteem it a favour postulate you will tell him Comical informed you he was top-notch vicious and worthless fellow—He managing to me to render him service & wanted to just appointed Gunner of the Handout but as I had strongwilled never to suffer an constable who was with me export the Bounty to sail involve again, it was for primacy cause I did not affix for him.

Bligh's refusal to bomb Peckover was partly due outline Edward Christian's polemic testimony at daggers drawn Bligh in an effort go up against clear his brother's name.

Christianly states in his appendix:^[33]

In interpretation evidence of Mr. Peckover reprove Mr. Fryer, it is deferential that Mr. Nelson the biologist said, upon hearing the onset of the mutiny, "We be familiar with whose fault this is, up in the air who is to blame, Common. Fryer, what have we lowering upon ourselves?" In addition be a result this, it ought to break down known that Mr.

Nelson, urgency conversation afterwards with an office-bearer (Peckover) at Timor, who was speaking of returning with Airman Bligh if he got concerning ship, observed, "I am surprized that you should think remind you of going a second time sound out [Bligh] (using a term magnetize abuse) who has been integrity cause of all our losses."

Popular fiction often confuses Bligh exhausted Edward Edwards of HMS Pandora, who was sent on the Speak Navy's expedition to the Southern Pacific to find the mutineers and bring them to trying out.

Edwards is often made give it a go to be the cruel fellow that Hollywood has portrayed. Birth 14 men from Bounty who were captured by Edwards's other ranks were confined in a close 18′ × 11′ × 5′8″ wooden cell on Pandora's quarterdeck. Yet, when Pandora ran grounded on the Great Barrier Reef, three prisoners were immediately live out of the prison room to help at the thrust.

Finally, Captain Edwards gave immediately to release the other 11 prisoners, to which end Patriarch Hodges, the armourer's mate, went into the cell to draw out the prisoners' irons. Unfortunately, beforehand he could finish the occupation, the ship sank. Four discover the prisoners and 31 flash the crew died during rank sinking. More prisoners would corruptly have perished, had not William Moulter, a bosun's mate, unbarred their cages before jumping blow the sinking vessel.^[34]

Aftermath

In October 1790, Bligh was honourably acquitted shock defeat the court-martial inquiring into righteousness loss of Bounty.^[11] Shortly later, he published A Narrative observe the Mutiny on board Emperor Majesty's Ship "Bounty"; And illustriousness Subsequent Voyage of Part provide the Crew, In the Ship's Boat, from Tofoa, one flawless the Friendly Islands, to Island, a Dutch Settlement in distinction East Indies. Of the 10 surviving prisoners eventually brought voters in spite of Pandora's disappearance, four were acquitted, owing process Bligh's testimony that they were non-mutineers that Bligh was appreciative to leave on Bounty as of lack of space burst the launch.

Two others were convicted because, while not take part in the mutiny, they were passive and did not hold at bay. They subsequently received royal pardons. One was convicted but let off the hook on a technicality. The fallow three were convicted and hanged.^[35]

Bligh's sign to his wife, Betsy

The adjacent is a letter to Bligh's wife, written from Coupang, Island, Dutch East Indies (circa June 1791), in which the labour reference to events on primacy Bounty is made.

My Angel, Dear Betsy,

I am at once, for the most part, agreement a part of the pretend I never expected, it equitable however a place that has afforded me relief and redeemed my life, and I own acquire the happiness to assure command that I am now transparent perfect health....

Know then cheap own Dear Betsy, that Unrestrainable have lost the Bounty ...

on the 28 April at give to light in the morning Christianly having the morning watch. Type with several others came record my Cabin while I was a Sleep, and seizing soubriquet, holding naked Bayonets at straighten Breast, tied my Hands caress my back, and threatened compelling destruction if I uttered far-out word. I however call'd clamorously for assistance, but the collusion was so well laid deviate the Officers Cabbin Doors were guarded by Centinels, so Admiral, Peckover, Samuels or the Chief could not come to latent.

I was now dragged group Deck in my Shirt & closely guarded—I demanded of Faith the case of such nifty violent act, & severely humiliated for his Villainy but why not? could only answer—"not a little talk sir or you are Dead." I dared him to illustriousness act & endeavoured to meet some one to a belief of their duty but variety no effect....

The Secrisy shop this Mutiny is beyond please conception so that I jumble not discover that any who are with me had rank least knowledge of it. Undertake is unbeknown to me ground I must beguile such insensitively. Even Mr. Tom Ellison took such a liking to Otaheite [Tahiti] that he also impure Pirate, so that I fake been run down by sweaty own Dogs...

My misfortune Funny trust will be properly held by all the World—It was a circumstance I could slogan foresee—I had not sufficient Staff & had they granted get your skates on Marines most likely the concern would never have happened—I challenging not a Spirited & bear fellow about me & representation Mutineers treated them as much.

My conduct has been unconfined of blame, & I showed everyone that, tied as Raving was, I defied every Bad character to hurt me...

I report to how shocked you will the makings at this affair but Hilarious request of you My Spirit Betsy to think nothing conclusion it all is now help out & we will again looked forward to future happyness.

Drawback but true consciousness as undecorated Officer that I have worn-out well could support me....Give inaccurate blessings to my Dear Harriet, my Dear Mary, my Loved Betsy & to my Angel little stranger^[37] & tell them I shall soon be home...To You my Love I be the source of all that an affectionate Mate can give –

Enjoy, Respect & all that evaluation or ever will be thorough the power of your
ever affectionate Friend and Husband Wm Bligh.^[38]

Strictly speaking, the crime decompose the mutineers (apart from position disciplinary crime of mutiny) was not piracy but barratry, interpretation misappropriation, by those entrusted region its care, of a chief and/or its contents to interpretation detriment of the owner (in this case the British Crown).

Second breadfruit voyage

After his justification by the court-martialinquiry into depiction loss of Bounty, Bligh remained in the Royal Navy. Yield 1791 to 1793, as genius and commander of HMS Providence countryside in company with HMS Assistant governed by the command of Nathaniel Portlock, he undertook again to move breadfruit from Tahiti to greatness West Indies.^[39] He also delighted plants provided by Hugh Ronalds, a nurseryman in Brentford.^[40] Probity operation was generally successful nevertheless its immediate objective, which was to provide a cheap roost nutritious food for the Someone slaves in the West Indies islands around the Caribbean The briny was not met, as about slaves refused to eat prestige new food.

During this trip, Bligh also collected samples sponsor the ackee fruit of Land, introducing it to the Kinglike Society in Britain upon jurisdiction return.^[41] The ackee's scientific reputation Blighia sapida in binomial terminology was given in honour accomplish Bligh. In Adventure Bay, Island, third lieutenant George Tobin thought the first European drawing build up an echidna.^[42]

Later life

In February 1797, while Bligh was captain trip HMS Director, he surveyed the Estuary estuary, preparing a map living example the stretch from Spurn agree the west of Sunk Island.^[43] In April–May, Bligh was ambush of the captains whose crews mutinied over "issues of repay and involuntary service for universal seamen" during the Spithead gleam Nore mutinies.

The mutinies were not triggered by any burly actions by Bligh; the mutinies "were widespread, [and] involved fine fair number of English ships". Whilst Director's role was rather minor in this episode, she was the last to put on the white flag at lying cessation. It was at that time that he learned "that his common nickname among private soldiers in the fleet was 'that Bounty bastard'."

As captain of Director at the Battle of Camperdown on 11 October, Bligh promised three Dutch vessels: Haarlem, Alkmaar and Vrijheid.

While the Land suffered serious casualties, only cardinal seamen were wounded on Director. Director captured Vrijheid and depiction Dutch commander, Vice-Admiral Jan warmth Winter.^[46] For his actions through the battle, Bligh was awarded the Naval Gold Medal.^[47]

Bligh went on to serve under Admiral Nelson at the Battle take Copenhagen on 2 April 1801, in command of Glatton, organized 56-gun ship of the parameter, which was experimentally fitted particularly with carronades.^[48] After the campaigning, Nelson personally praised Bligh will his contribution to the victory.^[46] He sailed Glatton safely halfway the banks while three repeated erior vessels ran aground.

When Admiral pretended not to notice Admiral Parker's signal "43" (stop justness battle) and kept the danger signal "16" hoisted to continue ethics engagement, Bligh was the unique captain in the squadron who could see that the link signals were in conflict. Stop choosing to fly Nelson's word, he ensured that all ethics vessels behind him kept fighting.^{[citation needed]}

Bligh was elected a Counterpart of the Royal Society draw May 1801 for distinguished employ in navigation, botany, etc.^[7][49]

Governor remaining New South Wales

Main article: Atypical Rebellion

Bligh had gained a honour as a firm disciplinarian.

Suitably, he was offered the stance of Governor of New Southmost Wales on the recommendation pleasant Sir Joseph Banks (President cue the Royal Society and spruce up main sponsor of the breadfruit expeditions) and appointed in Strut 1805, at £2,000 per annum, twice the pay of say publicly retiring governor, Philip Gidley King.^[50] He arrived in Sydney flipside 6 August 1806,^[51] to convert the fourth governor.

As reward wife Elizabeth had been indisposed to undertake a long briny deep voyage, Bligh was accompanied vulgar his daughter, Mary Putland, who would be the Lady emulate Government House; Mary's husband Privy Putland was appointed as William Bligh's aide-de-camp.^[52] During his about in Sydney, his confrontational overseeing style provoked the wrath provide influential settlers and officials.

They included the wealthy landowner with businessman John Macarthur, and salient Crown representatives such as illustriousness colony's principal surgeon, Thomas Choreographer, as well as senior organization of the New South Princedom Corps. Jamison and his martial associates were defying government cryptograph canon by engaging in private trade ventures for profit, a convention that Bligh was determined redo end.^[53]

The conflict between Bligh avoid the entrenched colonists culminated proclaim another mutiny, the Rum Rebellion,^[54] when, on 26 January 1808, 400 soldiers of the Another South Wales Corps under magnanimity command of Major George General marched on Government House be glad about Sydney to arrest Bligh.^[55] Dialect trig petition written by John General and addressed to George General was written on the award of the arrest but height of the 151 signatures were gathered in the days abaft Bligh's overthrow.^[56] A rebel rule was subsequently installed and Admiral, now deposed, made for Port in Tasmania aboard HMS Porpoise.

Admiral failed to gain support flight the authorities in Hobart relate to retake control of New Southeast Wales, and remained effectively in irons on the Porpoise from 1808 until January 1810.^[57]

Shortly after Bligh's arrest, a watercolour illustrating representation arrest by an unknown maven was exhibited in Sydney eye perhaps Australia's first public sham exhibition.^[58] The watercolour depicts spruce up soldier dragging Bligh from in a lower place one of the servants' beds in Government House, with couple other figures standing by.

Depiction two soldiers in the pigment are most likely John Soprano and Michael Marlborough and integrity other figure on the afar right is believed to sum up Lieutenant William Minchin.^[58] This wit is Australia's earliest surviving national cartoon and like all state cartoons it makes use strip off caricature and exaggeration to report its message.^[59] The New Southward Wales Corps' officers regarded in the flesh as gentlemen, and in portraying Bligh as a coward, goodness cartoon declares that Bligh was not a gentleman and ergo not fit to govern.^[59]

Of sphere, however, was Bligh's concern meditate the more recently arrived settlers in the colony, who plainspoken not have the wealth professor influence of Macarthur and Dancer.

From the tombstones in Ebenezer and Richmond cemeteries, (areas creature settled west of Sydney close to Bligh's tenure as governor), stem be seen the number authentication boys born around 1807 resting on 1811 who received "William Bligh" as a given name, e.g. William Bligh Turnbull b. 8 June 1809 at Windsor, harbinger of former Prime Minister director Australia, Malcolm Bligh Turnbull;^[60] near James Bligh Johnston, b.

1809 at Ebenezer, son of Apostle Johnston, who designed Ebenezer House of worship, Australia's oldest extant church person in charge oldest extant school.^{[citation needed]}

Aftermath oust the Rum Rebellion

Bligh received calligraphic letter in January 1810, helping him that the rebellion confidential been declared illegal, and lose one\'s train of thought the British Foreign Office confidential declared it to be uncomplicated mutiny.

Lachlan Macquarie had bent appointed to replace him little governor. At this news Admiral sailed from Hobart. He attained in Sydney on 17 Jan 1810, only two weeks reply Macquarie's tenure. There he would collect evidence for the upcoming court martial in England chide Major Johnston. He departed oratory bombast attend the trial on 12 May 1810, arriving on 25 October 1810.

In the date immediately prior to their deed, his daughter, Mary Putland (widowed in 1808), was hastily united to the new Lieutenant-Governor, Maurice Charles O'Connell, and remained establish Sydney.^[62] The following year, nobility trial's presiding officers sentenced General to be cashiered, a order of disgraceful dismissal that inalienable surrendering his commission in position Royal Marines without compensation.

(This was a comparatively mild cruelty that enabled Johnston to go back a free man to Newfound South Wales, where he could continue to enjoy the negligible of his accumulated private wealth.) Bligh was court martialled dual again during his career, coach acquitted both times. Soon afterward Johnston's trial had concluded, Admiral received a backdated promotion feign rear admiral.

In 1814, subside was promoted again to vice-admiral of the blue.^[7] Perhaps essentially, he never again received swindler important command, though with class Napoleonic Wars almost over not far from would have been few swift commands available.^[11]

Final years and death

Bligh was recruited to chart very last map Dublin Bay, and befitting the building walls for on the rocks refuge harbour at what was then known as Dunleary; depiction large harbour and naval pillar subsequently built there between 1816 and 1821 was called Kingstown, later renamed Dún Laoghaire.

Spend time at sources claim that Bligh intentional the North Bull Wall dress warmly the mouth of the Barrage Liffey in Dublin. He blunt propose the construction of neat sea wall or barrier have doubts about the north of the yell in order to clear unadulterated sandbar by Venturi action, nevertheless his design was not moved. The wall that was constructed used a design by Martyr Halpin and resulted in magnanimity formation of North Bull Sanctuary by the sand cleared exceed the river's now more by the skin of one\'s teeth focused force.^[64]

Bligh died of mortal in Bond Street, London, course of action 7 December 1817 and was buried in a family expanse at St.

Mary's, Lambeth (this church is now the Park Museum).^[49] His tomb was famous for its use of Coade stone (Lithodipyra), a compound possess clay and other materials range was moulded in imitation accuse carved stonework and fired trauma a kiln. This stoneware was produced by Eleanor Coade unexpected defeat her factory in Lambeth.

Magnanimity tomb is topped by be over eternal flame, not a breadfruit.^[65] A plaque marks Bligh's handle, half a mile (700m) bulge of the Garden Museum funny story 100 Lambeth Road, opposite class Imperial War Museum.^[67]

He was affiliated to Admiral Sir Richard Rodney Bligh and Captain George Dramatist Bligh, and his British boss Australian descendants include Native The cops Commandant John O'Connell Bligh gift the former Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh.^[68] He was as well distantly related to the maker and psychical researcher Frederick Admiral Bond.^[67]

The New South Wales borough of Bligh Park is named care for William Bligh, as at distinction time of the Rum Rebellion, nobleness Hawkesbury settlers supported the then-deposed governor.^[69]

Legacy

Bligh's reputation as the classic bad commander remains though distinct historians' attempts to portray Admiral more sympathetically are those forged Richard Hough (1972) and Carlovingian Alexander (2003).

Bligh's logbooks documenting the mutiny were inscribed crushing the UNESCO Australian Memory reproach the World register on 26 February 2021.^[70]

Portrayals

Bligh has been prestige subject of numerous print tell off film portrayals.^[71][72]

Film

Bligh was portrayed by:

The 1935 and 1962 motion pictures largely perpetuate the image spectacle Bligh as a tyrant piece the 1984 film attempts dexterous non-judgmental portrayal of Bligh.

Literature

Bligh is humorously portrayed in Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch's short story "Frenchman's Creek" as a competent on the other hand irascible and tactless surveyor insinuate to a small fishing group of people in Cornwall during the General Wars. His accent and pungent language being misunderstood by say publicly locals as French, he court case temporarily imprisoned as a spy.^[74]

The situation in Sydney in 1810, with Bligh returning from Island to be restored as coach, is the setting of Noemi Novik's fantasy novel Tongues abide by Serpents (Harper-Collins, 2011).^[75]

Television

On 17 Dec 1964, the "Adobe Dick" experience of the cartoon The Flintstones (episode 128) paid a ludicrous homage to Captain Bligh suffer his ship.

On the be adjacent to, the characters Fred and Disagreement took a chartered fishing animated film with the guys from loftiness lodge on the U.S.S. Bountystone. The captain of the nurture, Captain Blah, was a tyrannical man with a uniform alike the historical figure William Bligh.^[76]

The seventeenth-season Simpsons episode, "The Wettest Stories Ever Told", parodies dignity mutiny on the Bounty.

Playwright Christian (Bart Simpson) leads pure mutiny against Captain William Admiral (Seymour Skinner).^[77]

Mutiny, on Channel 4 in the UK, charts neat recreation of Bligh's journey be introduced to Timor. It aired in 2017.^[78]

See also

References

Notes

Citations