William Bligh

Reassesses William Bligh, highlighting his navigation feats, leadership, and career beyond the infamous Bounty mutiny.

William Bligh – That Bounty Bastard tells the story of a man whose reputation has been permanently ruined by his portrayal in films as a cruel and vindictive tyrant. The facts prove otherwise. This book looks at the life of a much-maligned man who was a protégé of the explorer James Cook and who enjoyed the unwavering patronage of the botanist Sir Joseph Banks throughout his life. Sent to Tahiti to transport breadfruit plants to the West Indies, he is nowadays renowned only for his part in the Mutiny on the Bounty. Critics overlook the astonishing feat of navigation and leadership in bringing his men to safety after a voyage of more than 4000 miles in an open boat – with very limited supplies.

He was successful in his breadfruit mission on the second attempt and then went on to considerable naval glory due to his courage in battle. It earned him the prestigious appointment of Governor of New South Wales. This proved to be a poisoned chalice – and he was thrown out of office by an insurrection intent on preserving the army’s corrupt hold on power.

The book also examines what happened to Fletcher Christian after he sailed the Bounty to Pitcairn, examines the voyage of the Pandora, which brought some of the mutineers back to Britain, and examines the ensuing courts martial.

This is the story of a man who was sincere, stubborn and somewhat staid – but with astonishing temper tantrums when provoked or opposed in the execution of what he saw to be his duty.