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Thread: Captain Bligh HMS Bounty

  1. #1

    Default Captain Bligh HMS Bounty

    Do you think that history has been unfair towards Bligh, from what the story has been told about the mutiny on the ship, the crew done it for selfish reasons only, and the harsh life of the 18th century, Bligh was a very lenient man in that time, the good points and down points about Bligh was that he was a very good seaman and navigator, but a very poor leader and captain, he was denied promotion twice before going on the bounty, and he had a very quick temper, but never subjected his crew to a brutal regime, white Europeans back in the 18th century, are not the sort that you would want as a leader or a boss today, because we where very harsh, and very hot headed, and many had a violent temper because of are class system back then, Fletcher's family had huge links to the higher class of society, and that may have threw things that where not true about what had happened on the ship,

  2. #2

    Default Re: Captain Bligh HMS Bounty

    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.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Captain Bligh HMS Bounty

    Quote Originally Posted by meme_engine View Post
    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.
    Reading this was most interesting sir...thankyou +rep

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