Lieutenant William Bligh - Commander H.M.S. BOUNTY
Bligh had sailed with Captain Cook aboard the Resolution as Master in 1777 on a journey around the world.At the age of 16 in 1770 Bligh joined H.M.S. Hunter and one year later was appointed midshipman aboard H.M.S Crescent.
In 1776 aged 22 Bligh was appointed Master of H.M.S. Resolution and sailed with Captain Cook on his third voyage round the world.
He was present in the Isle of Hawaii when Cook was murdered by cannibals on the 14th February 1789 at Kealakekua Bay.
After Bligh married in 1781 he returned to the sea and in August of that year fought under admiral Hyde Parker on H.M.S. Belle Poule against the Dutch Navy at the Dogger Bank.
A year later he took part in an action under Lord Howe to relieve the garrison at Gibraltar, after which he served with merchant vessels until he was offered command of H.M.S. Bounty.
Husband:WILLIAM BLIGH
Born: 9 Sep 1754 in: Plymouth,
Devon, England
Died: 6 Dec 1817 in: London, England
Ref: Occupation: Bounty Captain
Wife: ELIZABETH BETHAM
Married: 4 Feb 1781 in: Douglas, Man, England
Born: ABOUT 1753 in: England
Died: 15 Apr 1812 in: "Durham Place", London, England
Children:
1 HARRIET MARIA BLIGH b. 15 Nov 1781 d. 26 Feb 18562 MARY BLIGH b. 1783 d. 4 Dec 1864
3 ELIZABETH BLIGH b. 24 Mar 1786 d. 17 Jul 1854
4 JANE BLIGH b. 11 May 1788 d. 1875
5 FRANCES BLIGH b. 11 May 1788 d. 1862
6 ANNE CAMPBELL BLIGH b. 1791 d. 1 Nov 1843
7 WILLIAM BLIGH b. 1795 d. 1795
8 HENRY BLIGH b. 1795 d. 1795