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Why the question mark? Many would ask what has the 'Bounty' mutiny have to do with Australia. Marlon Brando may not have mentioned it in one of his mumbles in the 1962 movie, but the infamous spiteful cruel and vicious Captain William Bligh, would become the fourth Governor of the New South Wales colony.
In 1787, a group of West Indies planters wanted to transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti, to supply a staple diet crop for their slaves. They approached the Botanist, Joseph Banks, who had been Captain Cook's Botanist on the Endeavour during the voyage of discovery in 1770. With his influence, the Admiralty was instructed to send a ship to Tahiti to take a cargo of breadfruit trees to Jamaica and St.Vincent. An armed transport was bought and renamed the 'Bounty'. William Bligh was appointed to command her. Bligh was a brilliant seaman and navigator, and had already been to Tahiti as master of the 'Resolution' under James Cook. So you see the Australian connection again. Once again though, the penny pinching Admiralty had selected a ship that was far too small for the job. John Fryer was Bligh's Master, and Fletcher Christian, his Master's mate. No commissioned officers, and a crew of forty-five including four midshipmen. Had the customary marines been on board, there may not have been a mutiny at all, but there was no space to accommodate them. Bligh's original orders were to sail to Tahiti by the Cape Horn route, but because of Admiralty delays he did not sail until December 1787, and so missed the weather window for the Cape Horn route. After frustrating weeks battling heavy westerly gales, Bligh gave up and headed for the longer Cape of Good Hope and Van Diemen's Land route. The 'Bounty', and the ships of the first fleet to Australia, was on the water at the same time. According to Bligh's report, all had gone well, but at the subsequent courts-martial, witnesses talked of on-going conflict amongst the crew at a senior level. The 'Bounty' finally reached Tahiti in December 1788 after ten months at sea. There were two recorded punishments of men during that time-one with twenty-four lashes for mutinous behaviour, and one with six lashes for neglect of duty. This was certainly not excessive for this era and in fact after ten months at sea, all on board were fit and well; Bligh did seem to run a tight ship.
The copyright of the article The Convict Colony-Mutiny on the ‘Bounty’? in Australian History is owned by John Harman. Permission to republish The Convict Colony-Mutiny on the ‘Bounty’? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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