Why a Booktrail?
1737: Mutiny on the Bounty” is the first novel to explore all the events relating to the Bounty’s voyage
Mutiny on the Bounty
What you need to know before your trail
A 14-year-old boy, John Jacob Turnstile, has got into trouble with the police on one too many occasions and is on his way to prison when an offer is put to him – a ship has been refitted over the last few months and is about to set sail with an important mission. The boy who was expected to serve as the captain’s personal valet has been injured and a replacement must be found immediately. The deal is struck and he finds himself onboard, meeting the captain, just as the ship sets sail.The ship is HMS Bounty, the captain is William Bligh, and their destination is Tahiti.
Locations
Reset- England - Hampshire - Portsmouth
- A: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- B: HMS Warrior
- C: Mary Rose Museum
- French Polynesia
- D: Tahiti
- E: Pitcairn Islands - Bounty Bay
Travel Guide
Portsmouth
HMS Pandora was the boat in the real life story of mutiny
His Majesty’s Armed Vessel Bounty set sail from England in December of 1787, under the command of 33-year old lieutenant William Bligh. It was headed for Tahiti, and the mission of those on board was to obtain saplings of plants and trees such as the breadfruit tree. The seeds were then to be transported to various parts of the West Indies, where they would be used as a cheap, fast-growing food for slaves.
The mission was successful but it was then it was time to return home – it’s this which became the most noted and infamous part of the entire journey.
In the early hours of 28 April 1789, approximately two weeks since the ship left Tahiti, Bligh was awoken by someone pressing on his chest. He was then hustled on deck at musket point where he discovered that the mutineers had segregated the ship’s company.Some remained loyal to him. Others did not.
Bligh meanwhile completed a voyage of more than 3,500 nautical miles (in the launch to reach safety, and began the process of bringing the mutineers to justice.
Where Next?
