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.

Military career

William Bligh's naval career consisted of a variety of appointments and assignments. A summary is as follows:

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• July 1, 1762: Ship's Boy and Captain's Servant, HMS Monmouth
• July 27, 1770: Able Seaman, HMS Hunter
• February 5 1771: Midshipman, HMS Hunter
• September 22, 1771: Midshipman, HMS Crescent
• September 2, 1774: Able Seaman, HMS Ranger
• September 30, 1775: Master's Mate, HMS Ranger
• March 20, 1776: Master, HMS Resolution
• February 14, 1781: Master, HMS Belle Poule
• October 5, 1781: Lieutenant, HMS Berwick
• January 1, 1782: Lieutenant, HMS Princess Amelia
• March 20, 1782: Lieutenant, HMS Cambridge
• January 14, 1783: Joined Merchant Service as Lieutenant
• 1785: Commanding Lieutenant, Merchant Vessel Lynx
• 1786: Lieutenant, Merchant Vessel Britannia
• 1787: Returns to Royal Navy active service
• August 16, 1787: Commanding Lieutenant, HMAV Bounty
• November 14, 1790: Captain, HMS Falcon
• December 15, 1790: Captain, HMS Medea
• April 16, 1791: Captain, HMS Providence
• April 30, 1795: Captain, HMS Calcutta
• January 7, 1796: Captain, HMS Director
• March 18, 1801: Post Captain, HMS Glatton
• April 12, 1801: Post Captain, HMS Monarch
• May 8, 1801: Post Captain, HMS Irresistible
• May 2, 1804: Post Captain, HMS Warrior
• May 14, 1805: Governor of New South Wales
• September 27, 1805: Post Captain, HMS Porpoise
• July 31, 1808: Commodore, HMS Porpoise
• April 3, 1810: Commodore, HMS Hindostan
• July 31, 1810: Appointed Rear Admiral of the Blue
• June 4, 1814: Appointed Vice Admiral of the Blue