Mutiny on the Bounty
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
Mutiny on the Bounty (also called HMS Bounty) was a small, three masted (had three wooden poles to hold up the sails), fully rigged sailing ship. The Bounty became famous when the crew (seamen) mutinied (took over) the ship on April 28, 1789. It has been made famous by several books, hip on Afilms, and other things such as songs.
The ship was built in Hull, England in 1784 and was first called Bethia. In 1787 the ship was rebuilt to carry breadfruit trees. The ship was very small - 90 feet 10 inches (27.7 metres) long and 24 feet 4 inches (7.4 metres) wide. The tallest mast was 53 feet (16.1 metres) high. [1].
The Bounty was captained by Lieutenant William Bligh and he took command on August 16, 1787. On December 23, 1787, Bounty was sent to Tahiti to pick up breadfruit plants. On the journey, William Bligh tried to go around Cape Horn for over a month, but was unsuccessful. The ship was turned around and instead went around the Cape of Good Hope.
The Bounty reached Tahiti on October 25, 1788. She had been at sea for ten months. The crew stayed for five months and lived on the island. They collected 1015 breadfruit plants. The crew were very happy living in Tahiti and Fletcher Christian married a Tahitian girl named Maimiti.
The Bounty left Tahiti on April 4, 1789. On April 28, on the Friendy Islands, Fletcher Christian led the mutiny (take over). Bligh and 18 sailors were left at sea in a small boat, while Christian and the Bounty went back to Tahiti. Christian and a small group then went to Pitcairn Island. After they arrived the ship was burned and destroyed at Pitcairn Island on January 23, 1790.
[change] Afterwards
Lieutenant William Bligh returned to England. He reported the mutiny to the Admiralty on March 15, 1790. On November 7, 1790, the HMS Pandora was sent to look for the Bounty.
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