Originally Posted by
meme_engine
I don't think it's a case of history being unfair to Bligh so much as recent fictional portrayals. Most people's knowledge of the mutiny on the Bounty is based on movies and TV programs that are rather loosely based on the actual history. Even in a "true" movie it's not unusual to paint the "villain" blacker than they were (or even create a villain where, in reality, there wasn't one). So Bligh is usually a cruel character from the start, while Christian is more of a man of the people.
The title of the thread is a sign of just how powerful that fictional image is. When talking about historic military figures it is usual to use their final rank in describing them; so he should be referred to as Vice-Admiral William Bligh, using his rank at his death in 1817. The famous mutiny was actually very early in his career. At the time, his naval rank was that of Lieutenant (since the Bounty was too small and lightly armed to warrant a full Post Captain) and he was only called "Captain" as the traditional courtesy title for the commander of a vessel. He was chosen for command because of his skill as a seaman and navigator, not for any record of leadership or man management. The voyage of the Bounty ultimately proved that his skill as a seaman was top rate (by navigating a ship's boat 3,500 miles across the Pacific) while his leadership skills were very wanting.
I'd guess that most people assume that the mutiny on the Bounty was the end of Bligh's naval career. However, he was honourably acquitted at the court-martial inquiring into the loss of the ship and he made the rank of Post Captain in 1790. He was unfortuate to suffer another mutiny while in command of HMS Dictator as part of the general mutinies at Spithead and the Nore in 1787. It's noted that he intervened on behalf of his crew on this occasion to prevent any of them being hanged. While still in command of the Dictator he fought with some merit at the Battle of Camperdown against a Dutch fleet. He then went on to command HMS Glatton, a converted merchant ship carrying an experimental all-carronade armament, at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, were he proved his courage and seamanship by saving Nelson's ship, HMS Elephant.
He left naval sea service in 1806 (after having been reprimanded for his conduct at another court martial in 1804) to serve as Governor of New South Wales. This, once again, proved to highlight his lack of management skills and he was replaced in 1810 after suffering a rebellion of the colonists. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral and then Vice-Admiral by senority but never commanded a fleet or served again at sea.