Steve Bartlett
American politician
William Bligh
officer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
William Bligh was a British naval officer known for the famous mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789. He later became the Governor of New South Wales in Australia, where he faced the Rum Rebellion and was illegally deposed from his command.
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About the William Bligh
Vice-Admiral William Bligh was a British officer in the Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. He is best known for the mutiny on HMS Bounty, which occurred in 1789 when the ship was under his command. The reasons behind the mutiny continue to be debated. After being set adrift in Bounty’s launch by the mutineers, Bligh and those loyal to him stopped for supplies on Tofua, losing a man to natives. Bligh and his men reached Timor alive, after a journey of 3,618 nautical miles (6,700 km; 4,160 mi).
On 13 August 1806, Bligh was appointed Governor of New South Wales in Australia, with orders to clean up the corrupt rum trade of the New South Wales Corps. His actions directed against the trade resulted in the so-called Rum Rebellion, during which Bligh was placed under arrest on 26 January 1808 by the New South Wales Corps and deposed from his command, an act which the British Foreign Office later declared to be illegal. He died in London on 7 December 1817.
Frequently Asked Questions
William Bligh was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He is best known for the mutiny that occurred on HMS Bounty while he was in command of the ship in 1789.
The mutiny on the HMS Bounty occurred in 1789 while the ship was under the command of William Bligh. The reasons behind the mutiny continue to be debated, but it resulted in Bligh and his loyal crew being set adrift in the ship’s launch.
After being set adrift by the mutineers, William Bligh and his crew stopped for supplies on Tofua, where they lost a man to native attacks. Bligh and the remaining crew then undertook a remarkable journey of 3,618 nautical miles to reach Timor alive.
In 1806, William Bligh was appointed Governor of New South Wales in Australia with orders to clean up the corrupt rum trade. His actions against the trade resulted in the Rum Rebellion, during which Bligh was placed under arrest and deposed from his command by the New South Wales Corps, an act later declared illegal by the British Foreign Office.
William Bligh died in London on December 7, 1817, nearly a decade after the Rum Rebellion in Australia that led to his deposition as Governor of New South Wales.
14 Quotes by William Bligh
- 1.
This was the first day of our beginning to take up plants: we had much pleasure in collecting them for the natives offered their assistance and perfectly understood the method of taking them up and pruning them.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 2.
Beef also was difficult to be procured and exceedingly poor; the price nearly sixpence farthing per pound.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 3.
Very good wine was bought at ten pounds per pipe, the contract price; but the superior quality was fifteen pounds; and some of this was not much inferior to the best London Madeira.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 4.
Adventure Bay is a convenient and safe place for any number of ships to take in wood and water during the summer months: but in the winter, when the southerly winds are strong, the surf, on all parts of the shore, makes the landing exceedingly troublesome.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 5.
All the 20th we were endeavouring to get into Adventure Bay but were prevented by variable winds.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 6.
The Cape Town is considerably increased within the last eight years. Its respectability with regard to strength has kept pace with its other enlargements and rendered it very secure against any attempt which is not made with considerable force.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 7.
The ship was named the Bounty: I was appointed to command her on the 16th of August 1787.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 8.
The ship was masted according to the proportion of the navy; but on my application the masts were shortened, as I thought them too much for her, considering the nature of the voyage.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 9.
There is a degree of wretchedness and want among the lower class of people which is not anywhere so common as among the Spanish and Portuguese settlements.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 10.
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.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 11.
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.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 12.
On the 28th the ship’s company received two months pay in advance, and on the following morning we worked out to St. Helen’s, where we were obliged to anchor.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 13.
Our plants had now increased to 252: as they were all kept on shore at the tent I augmented the guard there, though from the general conduct of the natives there did not appear the least occasion for so much caution.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)
- 14.
On the night of the 1st of September we observed for the first time signs of the natives being in the neighbourhood. Fires were seen on the low land near Cape Frederick Henry, and at daylight we saw the natives with our glasses.
William Blighofficer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator (1754-1817)