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View Full Version : On this day 28 April - Mutiny on the Bounty



7eat51
04-27-2013, 23:43
On the 28th of April 1789, Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against the HMS Bounty’s captain, William Bligh. Reacting against Bligh’s harsh treatment, and to the prospect of a pleasant life on Pacific Islands, notably Tahiti, the mutineers sent Bligh, and 18 crewmembers that were loyal to him, off in a 7-meter open launch. While the mutineers established themselves on Pitcairn Island and Tahiti, having burned the Bounty to avoid being caught, Bligh successfully piloted his small craft to Timor in the Dutch West Indies. The journey of 3,618 nautical miles took 47 days. Having returned to England, Bligh reported the affair, upon which the HMS Pandora was commissioned to retrieve the mutineers. On the 23rd of March 1791, the Pandora arrived at Tahiti. Fourteen men were brought onboard and locked up, however, four of them had been loyal to Bligh from the beginning. On the return trip to England, the ship ran aground killing many of her crew and four of the prisoners. Once in England, a naval court hanged three of the ten remaining Bounty crewmembers, acquitted four, and pardoned three.

William Bligh:

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The Mutiny:

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For more on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutiny_on_the_Bounty