Historedia
Person

William Bligh

Events
4
Episodes
6
Years
1787–1810

Every event in Historedia whose sources name William Bligh, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. HMS Bounty departure for Tahiti

    1787

    Role: Commanding lieutenant of HMS Bounty

    1. May–August 1787 · DeptfordBligh appointed and Bounty refitted

      Bligh was appointed commanding lieutenant on 16 August 1787, after the ship's June refitting at Deptford following its May purchase.

    2. 23 December 1787 · Spithead, England (departure point)HMS Bounty departs Spithead for Tahiti

      Bounty sailed from Spithead on 23 December 1787 under Lieutenant William Bligh, bound for Tahiti to collect breadfruit plants.

  2. Survivors of the Mutiny on the Bounty Reach Timor

    1789

    Role: Lieutenant and commander of Bounty, leader of the loyalists in the launch

    1. 28 April 1789 · South Pacific Ocean, near TofuaSet adrift after the mutiny

      On 28 April 1789, mutineers led by Fletcher Christian seized Bounty and set Bligh and 18 loyalists adrift in the ship's open launch.

    2. 14 June 1789 · Coupang, Timor, Dutch East IndiesBligh and loyalists reach Timor

      Bligh and 18 loyalists arrived at Coupang on Timor on 14 June 1789 after a 47-day open-boat voyage of 3,618 nautical miles.

  3. Rum Rebellion in New South Wales

    1808

    Role: Governor of New South Wales

    1. 26 January 1808 · Government HouseArrest of Governor Bligh

      On 26 January 1808, 400 soldiers marched on Government House in Sydney and arrested Governor William Bligh, deposing him from command.

  4. Lachlan Macquarie officially becomes Governor of New South Wales

    1810

    Role: Deposed Governor

    1. 1810 · SydneyRestoration of Order

      Macquarie assumed office in 1810 to restore lawful government following the 1808 Rum Rebellion against Governor Bligh.

Sources

  1. HMS Bounty Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-20
  2. William Bligh Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27
  3. Rum Rebellion Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-27
  4. History of Australia (1788–1850) Wikipedia
  5. Lachlan Macquarie Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-03