Bligh, WILLIAM,

Bligh, WILLIAM, an English admiral, born of an old Cornish family in 1753 or 1754, and celebrated in connection with the mutiny of the Bounty. He sailed under Captain Cook in his second voyage round the world, and earned early a high reputation as a skilful seaman. In December 1787 he was sent by the British government, as commander of the ship Bounty, to Tahiti, which he reached about ten months later, to collect plants of the bread-fruit tree with a view to their acclimatisation in the West India colonies. During their six months' stay on the island, his men had become completely demoralised, and in a few weeks mutinied under the overbearing temper and harsh treatment of their commander. On 28th April 1789, Bligh, with eighteen men, was cast adrift in an open boat but 23 feet long, with a small stock of provisions, and without a chart; while the mutineers turned their own course back to Tahiti, and ultimately settled on Pitcairn's Island. After almost incredible hardship, Bligh arrived at the island of Timor, near Java, on 14th June, having with infinite skill and courage sailed his frail craft for 3618 miles. 'Bread-fruit Bligh' was again sent out to collect bread-fruit plants, but though on this occasion he was more successful, the bread-fruit tree did not supersede the plantain in the West Indies. In 1805 he was appointed governor of New South Wales, but his conduct here was so harsh and overbearing as to cause universal dissatisfaction; and in January 1808, unable to tolerate his rule, the civil and military officers of the colony summarily terminated his government by arresting him. He was kept in prison by the colonists for two years. The officer who arrested him was tried in England and cashiered. After Bligh's return to England he was raised to the rank of admiral in 1811. He died in London, 7th December 1817.—The Bligh Islands are a portion of the Fiji Archipelago, in nearly 180° of long.