INDEX

• Introduction
• Maps
• Significant Places in Australia's Maritime History
• Naming Australia
• Naming Australia's Coastal Features

WHO DID DISCOVER AUSTRALIA?

• The Phoenecians & Egyptians
• The Greeks & Romans
• The Chinese
• The Muslims
• The Portuguese
• The Dutch
• The British
• The French

COLONIAL EXPLORATION

• Index
• The French
• The British
• Other
• Inland explorers

Colonial Exploration: William Bligh

Born at St. Tudy, near Plymouth, on 9 Sep 1754, it was very early when his parents had decided on as Naval career for their young son. William Bligh first appears on Naval roles at the age of 9, when, at the behest of Hon. Keith Stewart, he was entered as a personal servant to an officer on a man-of-war. By the age of 15, he was not only well-versed in science and mathematics, but had developed fine talents as a writer and illustrator. After a number of years of naval service, he received what was to be his first opportunity to visit the South Seas, when he was appointed Master of HMS Resolution, commanded by James Cook, prior to Cook's third voyage in March 1776. At 22, to be appointed sailing master on a major research vessel was a great tribute to his skill and connections. The Resolution and Discovery included a visit to Adventure Bay, Tasmania where they planted fruit trees, which are believed to include the first apple trees planted in the Huon valley. Cook was killed in Hawaii later in the expedition and it was left to Bligh to brings the ships home. The voyage ended in late 1780, and Bligh took a 12-month leave from active duty, during which time he was married.

Transportation of breadfruit from Tahiti

After serving on a number of ships, in June 1783 Bligh entered the service of Sir Duncan Campbell in the West Indian trade. He remained in the Jamaica trade for four years, his last assignment on board the Brittania, where he was to meet Fletcher Christian an others who were to sail with him on the Bounty. It was on this voyage, to collect breadfruit plants from Tahiti and take them to the west Indies, that Bligh was cut adrift in the ship's longboat by Christian in the inamous mutiny on the Bounty of 28 April 1789 (below). Bligh's skills as a navigator of the highest quality was demonstrated by his ability to sail the Bounty's lifeboat, which was just 7 metres long, from the island of  Torfoa to the island of Timor, a distance of 5,800 km, with only a sextant as a navigational aid.

After the Bounty voyage, Bligh commanded a number of scientific voyages. In November 1790, at the recommendation of Sir Joseph Banks, Bligh led another expedition to transplant breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the West Indies. With another of Cook's understudies, Lieut. William Portlock, Bligh set sail aboard the brig Assistant from Portsmouth in August 1791, returning to Adventure Bay, Tasmania, in February 1792. After two weeks of exploring, sketching and planting fruit trees, he left the bay for Tahiti where he learnt of Capt. Edwards voyage aboard HMS Pandora to round up the Bounty mutineers. Bligh took on board 2,196 breadfruit plants and left, visiting Fiji and spending 3 weeks charting and sketching the intricate channels and islands of Torres Strait on his journey to the West Indies. Bligh's second lieutenant, believed to be Matthew Flinders, went ashore on North Possession Island in Torres Strait and took possession of all the islands of the strait in the name of King George III. Bligh returned to England in August 1793.

Late in 1796, he was appointed commander of HMS Director. It is also interesting that in 1797, Bligh was involved in another serious mutiny, known as the Mutiny at the Nore. The crews of a number of naval vessels, including the Director, under the command of Vice-Admiral Buckner, mutinied together. It was a bloody and violent struggle. At its conclusion, Bligh stood strongly behind his ship's crew, and was commended by both seaman and officer alike for his handling of the affair.

He returned to England in 1790 and continued his career in the navy.  Captain William Bligh was  invited to survey Dublin bay by the director general of  inland navigation.  He had a reputation, earned in the South Seas, as a marine surveyor. He arrived in Dublin in September 1800 and commenced work immediately. He completed his survey and report in 3 months. Bligh returned to his naval duties in early 1801 and fought with Admiral Horatio Nelson at the battle of Copenhagen in that year.  He was appointed Governor of New South Wales in Australia in 1805, and took his office in 1806.  A mutiny took place in the colony, during which Bligh was deposed.   He was held in custody until February 1809 and he returned to England in 1810.   In 1811 he was promoted to Rear Admiral.  In 1814 he was named Vice Admiral and he died in London in 1817.

• William Bligh biography
• The Bounty mutiny | alternate