AustLit

A British naval officer and colonial governor, William Bligh is best remembered for the mutiny on the Bounty. Bligh began his naval service at the age of nine. He served as the sailing master on Captain James Cook's last voyage (1776-80). After taking command of the Bounty, Bligh was commissioned in 1787 to sail to Tahiti to pick up a cargo of breadfruit trees for the Indies. Harsh treatment of his crew resulted in the mutiny in April 1789. Bligh and 18 loyal crew members were set adrift in an open boat and by skillful seamanship navigated more than 5,800 km (3,600 mi) to Timor. En route, Bligh charted part of the northeast coast of New Holland (Australia). After the Bounty voyage, Bligh commanded a number of scientific voyages. In 1805, Bligh was appointed governor of New South Wales.