author
William Bligh
1754–1817
Best known for surviving the famous mutiny on HMS Bounty, this tough and skilled naval officer also made an extraordinary open-boat voyage across the Pacific and later served as governor of New South Wales.
2 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in Plymouth in 1754, William Bligh built his career in the Royal Navy and sailed with Captain James Cook early on, developing a strong reputation as a navigator. He became famous after the 1789 mutiny on the Bounty, when Fletcher Christian and other crewmen set him adrift.
What followed is one of the most remarkable survival stories in naval history: Bligh navigated a small open launch for thousands of miles to safety. That feat helped secure his place in history, even though his name has often been overshadowed by arguments about his temper and leadership style.
Bligh continued his naval career, later served as governor of New South Wales, and eventually rose to the rank of vice-admiral. He died in London in 1817, remembered as a complicated figure: strict and controversial, but also highly capable and undeniably resilient.