Posts Tagged ‘william bligh’

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What Mutiny do I Commemorate Today?

April 28, 2014
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April 28 is the anniversary of the Bounty mutiny.  Bligh’s biography written here, indicates he possessed  high level of seamanship and was a loyal officer.  These characteristics earned him respect.  His irascibility and unbending nature also brought him trouble.
He fought under Nelson and earned his praise.  In 1801, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his contributions to navigation and botany.
After his naval career, he served as Governor of New South Wales and had a tumultuous career in Australia, as well, due to his hot temper and insistence on carrying out the law.  He was eventually promoted to Vice Admiral and his claims in New South Wales were granted to his estate, providing well for his heirs.
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The mutiny occurred on this day in 1789, blamed on harsh treatment of the crew members. Did Bligh really deserve the disfavor that his crew and indeed history has heaped upon him?  Read more here.

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What Mutiny am I Commemorating Today?

April 28, 2013
william-bligh
April 28 is the anniversary of the Bounty mutiny.  Bligh’s biography written here, indicates he possessed  high level of seamanship and was a loyal officer.  These characteristics earned him respect.  His irascibility and unbending nature also brought him trouble.
He fought under Nelson and earned his praise.  In 1801, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his contributions to navigation and botany.
After his naval career, he served as Governor of New South Wales and had a tumultuous career in Australia, as well, due to his hot temper and insistence on carrying out the law.  He was eventually promoted to Vice Admiral and his claims in New South Wales were granted to his estate, providing well for his heirs.
A complex and interesting man.  Here are some quotes from Bligh’s logs:
The object of all the former voyages to the South Seas undertaken by the command of his present majesty, has been the advancement of science and the increase of knowledge.
In our passage from the Cape of Good Hope the winds were mostly from the westward with very boisterous weather: but one great advantage that this season of the year has over the summer months is in being free from fogs.

And I refer you to a post from 2012 on this subject.

A reconstruction of the ship Bounty was tragically lost in Hurricane Sandy in 2012.  This video shows the heroic efforts of the Coast Guard in rescuing the Bounty’s crew.  Fourteen crewmen were rescued; two, including the captain, were lost.

 

This  is a re-blogging of my 2013 post commemorating the mutiny involving my distant cousin.

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What mutiny do we commemorate today?

April 28, 2012

The ship was named the Bounty:  I was appointed to command her on the 16th of August, 1787. – William Bligh

Tyrannical leader – or captain of a crew of whiners and misfits – the answer is probably somewhere in the middle.  However the real story is not the mutiny that took place on April 28, 1789, but the voyage that came after.

The Bounty mutineers, after setting Bligh and 18 loyal crew members adrift, returned to Tahiti while some made their way to Pitcairn.  This is the story retold in the movies.

Bligh, however, succeeded in sailing his small open boat, across 3600 miles, taking 47 days, to the island of Timor.

The mutineers who remained on Tahiti were arrested and returned to England.  The mutineers on Pitcairn eluded capture.  Bligh went on to continued success in his career.  He was eventually promoted to Vice Admiral.  Don’t believe everything Hollywood tells you.

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