William Bligh

William Bligh (9 September 1754 - 7 December 1817) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator. He is best known for the famous mutiny that occurred against his command aboard HMAV (His Majesty's Armed Vessel) Bounty. After the Bounty mutiny he became Governor of New South Wales, where his stern administration engendered another insurrection, the Rum Rebellion led by John Macarthur.

After the Bounty

After a court of inquiry, Bligh went on to serve under Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen, commanding HMS Glatton, a 64-gun ship of the line, which was experimentally fitted exclusively with carronades. After the battle Bligh was personally praised by Nelson for his contribution to the victory. His navigational skills allowed him to navigate safely the Glatton between the banks while three other vessels ran aground. When Nelson feigned not to notice the signal 43 of the Admiral Parker to stop the battle, and kept the signal 16 hoisted to continue the engagement, on the Glatton Bligh was the only captain who could see the conflicting two signals. By choosing to leave also the signal 16, Bligh fixed that all the vessels behind the Glatton remained fighting.

Related Topics:
Nelson - Battle of Copenhagen - ''HMS Glatton'' - Carronades

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As captain of the HMS Director, at the Battle of Camperdown, Bligh engaged three Dutch vessels: the Haarlem, the Alkmaar and the Vrijheid. While the Dutch suffered serious casualties, on the Director only 7 seamen were wounded.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bligh became governor of New South Wales in 1805. There he suffered another mutiny, the Rum Rebellion, and was imprisoned from 1808 to 1810.

Related Topics:
New South Wales - 1805 - Rum Rebellion - 1808 - 1810

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1811, having been exonerated, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, and 3 years later, in 1814, promoted again, to Vice Admiral of the Blue.

Related Topics:
Rear Admiral - Vice Admiral of the Blue

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bligh designed the North Bull Wall at the mouth of the River Liffey in Dublin, to ensure the entrance to Dublin Port did not silt up and prevent a sandbar forming.

Related Topics:
River Liffey - Dublin - Dublin Port - Sandbar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bligh was buried in a family plot at Lambeth. This church is now the Museum of Garden History. His gravestone is topped by a breadfruit. Bligh's house is marked by a plaque a block east of the Museum.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~