This chronology is the work of, and used by permission of, Butch Kerr, a student and researcher of “The Bounty Saga.”
Year | Date | What / Event | Where | Notes |
1738 | 6/4 | George III born | London | |
1743 | 2/2 | Joseph Banks born | London | |
1754 | 9/9 | William Bligh born | Plymouth | to Francis & Jane Bligh |
1760 | 9/22 |
George III became King of England |
London | |
1764 | 9/25 |
Fletcher Christian born - Cumberland |
Moorland Close |
to Charles & Ann Christian |
1767 | 6/17 |
Tahiti discovered - Samuel Wallis |
Tahiti | In ship Dolphin |
1767 | 7/2 |
Pitcairn Island discovered - Carteret |
South Pacific |
son of Maj. Pitcairn on Swallow |
1768 | 8/25 |
Capt Cook departs in Endeavor |
England |
first Cook voyage of discovery |
1769 | 4/13 |
Capt Cook arrives for first time |
Tahiti | Matavia Bay |
1770 | 7/27 |
Bligh enters active Naval Service |
London |
HMS Hunter - 10 gun sloop - as AB |
1771 | 7/13 | Capt Cook returns in Endeavor | London |
first Cook discovery voyage |
1771 | 2/4 | Bligh promoted to Midshipman | in HMS Hunter | |
1771 | 9/22 | Bligh departed HMS Hunter | ||
1771 | 9/22 | Bligh to HMS Crescent | London | 36 guns - Midshipman |
1772 | 7/13 | Capt Cook departs in Resolution | London | second Cook discovery voyage |
1774 | 9/2 | Bligh departs HMS Crescent | London | |
1774 | 9/2 | Bligh on HMS Ranger | London | as AB |
1774 | 10/3 | Norfolk Island discovered | Norfolk Is. | by Capt Cook in Resolution |
1775 | 7/29 | Capt Cook returns in Resolution | London | second Cook discovery voyage |
1775 | 9/30 | Bligh appointed Midshipman | London | on HMS Ranger |
1776 | 3/20 | Bligh to Master HMS Resolution | London | Captain James Cook |
1776 | 5/1 | Bligh passed the Lieutenants exam | ||
1776 | 7/14 | Cook sails on 3rd voyage - Resolution | Plymouth | Bligh is sailing master |
1779 | 2/14 | Captain James Cook killed | Hawaii | |
1780 | 10/4 | Resolution/Bligh return to England | Nore | Bligh as navigator |
1781 | 2/4 | Bligh marries Elizabeth Betham | Conchan Parish | Betsy from Douglas |
1781 | 2/14 | Bligh appointed Master / Belle Poule | London | fought at Dogger Bank |
1781 | 9/5 | Bligh transferred from Belle Poule | London | |
1781 | 9/6 | Bligh transferred to HMS Berwick | London | Capt John Fergusson - 74 guns |
1781 | 10/5 | Bligh promoted to Lieutenant | ||
1781 | 12/31 | Bligh departed HMS Berwick | London | |
1782 | 1/1 | Bligh arrives HMS Princess Amelia | Fifth Lieutenant - 80 guns | |
1782 | 3/19 | Bligh departs HMS Princess Amelia | after battle of Dogger Park | |
1782 | 3/20 | Bligh served on HMS Cambridge | Jr. Lieutenant - also w/F Christian | |
1783 | 1/13 | Bligh departed HMS Cambridge | London | went to 1/2 pay |
1783 | 4/25 | Fletcher Christian to HMS Eurydice | Spithead | as Midn- Capt George Courtney |
1783 | 6/4 | Bligh took command of Lynx | Jamaica trade | merchant - for Duncan Campbell |
1784 | Bethia built in Hull, England | Hull | a merchant collier | |
Bligh took command of Camrbian | Jamaica trade | merchant - for Duncan Campbell | ||
1785 | Bligh took command of Britannia | Jamaica trade | merchant - Duncan Campbell | |
1785 | Britannia departs England | to Jamaica | Bligh is Capt with F. Christian | |
1785 | Britannia arrives in England | from Jamaica | F. Christian is gunner | |
1787 | Britannia departs England | to Jamaica | Capt Bligh / F Christian 2nd mate | |
1787 | 5/13 | FIrst Fleet sails | Portsmouth | Capt Arthur Phillip - to Australia |
1787 | 5/23 | Bethia purchased by Admiralty | Deptford | Renamed Bounty |
1787 | 8/2 | Britannia arrives in England | Portsmouth | Bligh Capt - with F. Christian |
1787 | 8/6 | Bligh informed of Bounty command | London | by Campbell - letter to Banks |
1787 | 8/16 | Bligh appointed to command Bounty | London | |
1787 | 9/3 | Bounty out of shipyard dock | Deptford | Bounty then refitted |
1787 | 10/9 | Bounty sailed down the Thames | Longbeach | Loaded guns and ammo |
1787 | 12/23 | Bounty departs from England | Spithead | Breadfruit mission, with 46 men |
1788 | 1/6 | Bounty arrives at Canary Island | Teneriffe | resupply |
1788 | 1/12 | Bounty departs Canary Island | Teneriffe | |
1788 | 1/26 | Sydney, Australia, founded | Sydney | FIrst Fleet - Capt Phillip |
1788 | Feb | Norfolk Island Penal Colony founded | Norfolk Island | First Fleet |
1788 | 3/2 | Fletcher Christian promoted to LT | at sea | 3 watches vice 2 on Bounty |
1788 | 3/11 | Matthew Quintal - 24 lashes | at sea | insolence/contempt to Fryer |
1788 | 3/28 | Start of attempt to round Cape Horn | Cape Horn | brutal weather for Bounty |
1788 | 4/22 | Bounty turns for Africa | Cape Horn | Bligh thanks crew |
1788 | 5/24 | Bounty arrives at Cape Town | Cape Town | resupply |
1788 | 5/24 | John Williams - 6 lashes | Cape Town | neglect in having the lead |
1788 | 7/1 | Bounty departs Cape Town | Cape Town | resupplied |
1788 | 8/21 | Bounty arrives at Adventure Bay | Tasmania | |
1788 | 10/9 | James Valentine dies - Bounty AB | at sea | asthma, and was bled |
1788 | 10/19 | W. Brown / J. Mills grog stopped | at sea | refusing to dance/exercise |
1788 | 10/26 | Bounty arrives in Tahiti | Matavia Bay | to collect breadfruit |
1788 | 11/2 | Breadfruit tent/store party setup | Tahiti | 9 Bounty crew - to collect plants |
1788 | 11/3 | John Adams - 12 lashes | Tahiti | allowed grudgeon to be stolen |
1788 | 12/5 | Matthew Thompson - 12 lashes | Tahiti | for insolence - disobey orders |
1788 | 12/9 | Bounty Surgeon John Huggan died | Tahiti | alcohol poisoning |
Thomas Ledward appointed surgeon | Tahiti | |||
1788 | 12/27 | William Mugspratt - 12 lashes | Tahiti | neglect of duty |
Year | Date | What / Event | Where | Notes |
1789 | 1/5 | 3 Bounty men deserted in the cutter | Tahiti | Churchill, Muspratt, Millward |
1789 | 1/6 | Midn Haywood confined in irons | Tahiti | was watch officer - 3 deserted |
1789 | 1/17 | Bounty sails found mildewed/rotted | Tahiti | new sails in storage |
1789 | 1/23 | 3 Bounty deserters apprehended | Tahiti | With help from Tahitians |
1789 | 1/24 | 3 Bounty deserters punished | Tahiti | Church. 12, Musp. 24, Mill. 24 |
1789 | 1/30 | Isaac Martin - 19 lashes | Tahiti | for striking a Tahitian |
1789 | 2/4 | 2nd flogging for 3 Bounty deserters | Tahiti | Church. 12, Musp. 24, Mill. 24 |
1789 | 2/6 | Bounty anchor line cut | Tahiti | cause/person never determined |
1789 | 3/2 | Breadfruit collection completed | Tahiti | loaded onboard Bounty |
1789 | 4/4 | Bounty departs Tahiti | Tahiti | 1015 breadfruit plants |
1789 | 4/22 | Bounty anchors at Nomuka | Friendly Island | for water - Natives a problem |
1789 | 4/26 | Bounty departs Nomuka | Friendly Island | Bligh angry |
1789 | 4/28 | Mutiny on the Bounty | South Pacific Ocean | |
1789 | 4/29 | Bligh/launch to shore | Tofua | 23' launch - 19 men |
1789 | 5/2 | John Norton died - Quartermaster | Tofua | Killed by Tofuans |
1789 | 5/2 | Bligh/launch depart Tofua | Tofua | Start of boat voyage |
1789 | 5/28 | Bligh/launch arrive Restoration Island | New Holland | |
1789 | 5/30 | Bligh/launch depart Restoration Island | New Holland | |
1789 | 5/31 | Bligh/launch on Sunday Island | New Holland | confrontation with Purcell |
1789 | 5/28 | Bounty arrives Tubai with mutineers | Tubuai | at anchor to explore island |
1789 | 6/6 | Bounty depart Tubuai with mutineers | Tubuai | to Tahiti |
1789 | 6/14 | Bounty launch/Bligh arrive Timor | Coupang | 3618 miles |
1789 | 6/16 | Bounty depart Tahiti with mutineers | Matavia Bay | |
1789 | 6/23 | Bounty arrive Tubuai with mutineers | Tubuai | to set up colony |
1789 | 7/20 | David Nelson died | Coupang | purchased the schooner |
1789 | 9/12 | Bounty departs Tubuai | Tubuai | to Tahiti / failed colony |
1789 | 9/23 | Bounty departs Tahiti w/9 mutineers | Matavia Bay | last time in Tahiti - 16 stayed |
1789 | 10/1 | Bligh/Bounty crew arrive in Batavia | Batavia | in schooner Resource |
1789 | 10/10 | Resource and launch sold | Batavia | |
1789 | 10/16 | Bligh departs Batavia in Vlydte | Batavia | with John Samuel & John Smith |
1789 | William Elphinstone died | Batavia | masters mate | |
1789 | Peter Linkletter died | Batavia | Quartermaster | |
1789 | Robert Lamb AB/butcher died | at sea | enroute from Batavia to England | |
1789 | Thomas Ledward died - act surgeon | at sea - ship Welfare? | "Not heard from" | |
1789 | 12/16 | Bligh arrives at Cape of Good Hope | Table Bay | in Dutch ship Vlydte |
1790 | 1/2 | Bligh departs Cape of Good Hope | Table Bay | in Vlydte with Samuel & Smith |
1790 | 1/15 | Bounty arrives in Pitcairn | Pitcairn Island | new settlement established |
1790 | 1/23 | Bounty is burned | Pitcairn Island | now "Bounty Day" on Pitcairn |
1790 | 3/14 | Bligh arrives in England from Batavia | Portsmouth | Isle of Wight boat from Vlydte |
1790 | 3/16 | Bligh formally reports Bounty mutin | London | to the Admiralty |
1790 | 4/? | Charles Churchill died | Tahiti | murdered by Matthew Thompson |
1790 | 4/? | Matthew Thompson died - AB | Tahiti | murdered by a Tahitian |
1790 | 7/1 | Bligh book 'Narrative' is published | London | FIrst of Bounty books - G. Nichol |
1790 | 10/22 | Bligh court martialed for Bounty loss | Spithead | exonerated - HMS Royal William |
1790 | 11/7 | HMS Pandora departs England | Spithead | Captain Edward Edwards |
1790 | 11/14 | Bligh to HMS Falcon - Captain | London | 14 gun sloop |
1790 | 12/15 | Bligh to HMS Medea - Captain | London | |
1790 | Fahoutu fell collecting eggs & died | Pitcairn | William's wife - first Pitcairn death | |
1790 | 10/? | Thursday October Christian born | Pitcairn | first born on Pitcairn |
1790 | 12/15 | Bligh promoted to Post Captain | London | |
1791 | 3/23 | HMS Pandora arrives in Tahiti | Tahiti | 14 Bounty crew taken prisoners |
1791 | 4/16 | Bligh to Captain HMS Providence | London | |
1791 | 5/8 | HMS Pandora departs from Tahiti | Tahiti | 14 Bounty crew in a cage |
1791 | 8/3 | HMS Providence/Assistant Bligh sail | Portsmouth | on 2nd breadfruit voyage |
1791 | 8/28 | HMS Pandora wreck | Great Barrier Reef | another boat voyage to Timor |
1791 | 8/28 | Henry Hillbrant died - Cooper | Great Barrier Reef | Pandora wreck |
1791 | 8/28 | Richard Skinner died - AB | Great Barrier Reef | Pandora wreck |
1791 | 8/28 | John Sumner died - AB | Great Barrier Reef | Pandora wreck |
1791 | 8/28 | George Stewart died - AB midshipman | Great Barrier Reef | Pandora wreck |
1791 | 9/17 | HMS Pandora boats arrive in Timor | Coupang | 10 Bounty crewman |
1791 | Puarei/Obuarei died - date unknown | Pitcairn | Adams first consort - from Tahiti | |
1791 | 4/10 | Providence/Assistant Bligh arrive | Tahiti | 2nd breadfruit collection |
1792 | 6/18 | Bounty/Pandora crew arrive in England | Spithead | 10 Bounty crew / HMS Gorgon |
1792 | 7/1 | Bligh's book 'Voyage' published | London | by G. Nichol - 2nd Bounty book |
1792 | 7/20 | Providence/Assistant Bligh depart | Tahiti | with breadfruit for Jamaica |
1792 | 8/12 | Court Martial of mutineers begins | Portsmouth | HMS Duke - 10 Bounty crewman |
1792 | 8/18 | Court martial of mutineers ends | Portsmouth | HMS Duke |
1792 | 10/29 | Burkitt, Ellison, Millward hanged | Spithead | HMS Brunswick |
Year | Date | What / Event | Where | Notes |
1793 | 1/27 | Providence/Assistant Bligh arrive | Jamaica | deliver breadfruit |
1793 | 6/17 | Providence/Assistant Bligh depart | Jamaica | after service against France |
1793 | Nancy given to Williams | Pitcairn | start of the rebellion | |
1793 | 8/1 | Talaloo/Tararo died - Raiatean | Pitcairn | killed by Menalee |
1793 | 8/2 | Ohu/Uhuu died - Tubuain | Pitcairn | killed by Menalee |
1793 | 9/3 | Providence/Assistant Bligh arrive | England | at Deptford 8/7 - Bligh to 1/2 pay |
1793 | 9/20 | Fletcher Christian died | Pitcairn | killed by Tahitian men |
1793 | 9/20 | Wiliiam Brown died | Pitcairn | killed/ b. England 1762 |
1793 | 9/20 | John Mills died | Pitcairn | killed/ b. Scotland 1750 |
1793 | 9/20 | Isaac Martin died | Pitcairn | killed/ b. USA 1758 |
1793 | 9/20 | John Williams died | Pitcairn | killed/ b. England 1765 |
1793 | 9/28 | Timoa/Teimau died - Tahitian | Pitcairn | killed by Menalee |
1793 | 10/1 | Menalee/Minarii died 0 Tahitian | Pitcairn | killed by McCoy |
1793 | 10/4 | Nehow/Niau died 0 Tahitian | Pitcairn | killed by Young |
1793 | 10/4 | Tetaheite/Taroamiva died - Tubuain | Pitcairn | killed by Susan |
1794 | 5/1 | Minutes of Bounty court martial | Portsmouth | published by Stephen Barney |
1794 | 5/14 | Appendix to court martial Minutes | Portsmouth | published by Edward Christian |
1794 | 12/3 | Bligh Answer to Christian Appendix | London | published by Bligh/G. Nichol |
1795 | Short Reply to Bligh's Answer | London | published by Edward Christian | |
1795 | 4/30 | Bligh to command - HMS Calcutta | 24 guns | |
1796 | 1/7 | Bligh departs HMS Calcutta | ||
1796 | 1/7 | Bligh to command - HMS Director | 64 guns | |
1797 | 4/16 | Mutiny at Spithead | Spithead | Mutiny 4/16 to 5/15 |
1797 | 5/12 | Mutiny at the Nore | London | Mutiny 5/12 to 6/13 |
1797 | 5/19 | Bligh ordered off of HMS Director | Sheerness | Mutiny at the Nore |
1797 | 6/16 | Bligh returned to HMS Director | Sheerness | then to Camperdown Battle |
1798 | William McCoy died | Pitcairn | suicide - drunk/ b. 1763 Scotland | |
1798 | John Hallet died - midshipman | at sea | HMS Penelope sinking | |
1798 | 4/? | Thomas Hayward died 0 midshipman | at sea | HMS Swift sinking |
1799 | Tevarua/Big Sully/Sarah died | Pitcairn | Quintal consort | |
1799 | Matthew Quintal killed | Pitcairn | by Adams and Young/ b. 1766 | |
1800 | 7/3 | Bligh departed HMS Director | London | shore leave in London |
1800 | 12/25 | Edward Young died - midshipman | Pitcairn | of asthma/ b. 1762 W.I. |
1801 | 3/13 | Bligh command of HMS Glatton | Yarmouth | Battle of Copenhagen |
1801 | 4/13 | Bligh departed HMS Glatton | Copenhagen | thanked by Nelson |
1801 | 4/13 | Bligh to command of HMS Monarch | Copenhagen | 74 guns - appoint by Adam Parker |
1801 | 5/7 | Bligh departed HMS Monarch | Nore | |
1801 | 5/8 | Bligh command of HMS Irresistible | Nore | 74 guns |
1801 | 5/21 | Bligh elected Fellow, Royal Society | London | |
1801 | 5/28 | Bligh departed HMS Irresistable | London | stood down - 1/2 pay |
1804 | 5/2 | Bligh to command - HMS Warrior | Plymouth | |
1805 | 2/25 | Bligh court martial started | HMS San Josef | re Warrior - Lt Frazier |
1805 | 2/26 | Bligh court martial concluded | Torbay | Bligh reprimanded/admonished |
1805 | 2/26 | Bligh returned to Warrior | Portsmouth | as Commanding Officer |
1805 | 4/29 | Bligh appointed Governor of NSW | London | |
1806 | 2/20 | Bligh departs England for NSW | London | HMS Porpoise & Lady Sinclair |
1806 | 8/8 | Bligh arrives in NSW as governor | Sydney | became governor 8/14 |
1807 | James Morrison died/masters mate | at sea | gunner - HMS Bienhiem | |
1808 | 1/26 | Bligh deposed as governor of NSW | Sydney | Rum Rebellion |
1808 | 2/6 | Capt Folger rediscovers Pitcairn Island | Pitcairn | in American sealer Topaz |
1809 | 5/14 | Admiralty notified - Bounty at Pitcairn | London | news via Brazil - Lt Fitzmarice |
1810 | 5/12 | Bligh departs NSW | Sydney | in HMS Hindostan |
1810 | 10/25 | Bligh arrives in England from NSW | Spithead | then Bligh to London |
1810 | Mareva died | Pitcairn | Manarii/Teimua/Niau-Adams | |
1810 | Yeatuahitea died | Pitcairn | Brown consort | |
1811 | 7/31 | Bligh promoted to Rear Admiral | London | flag never broken at sea |
1812 | 4/15 | Bligh's wife Elizabeth died | Lambeth | buried at Lambeth |
1814 | 6/4 | Bligh promoted to Vice Admiral | London | at his home |
1814 | 9/17 | Capts Pipon & Stains arrive Pitcairn | Pitcairn | HMS Tagus & Briton |
1817 | 5/26 | John Fryer died - Bounty Master | Norfolk UK | Wells next to the sea |
1817 | 10/17 | American ship Sultan visit Pitcairn | Pitcairn | Capt Caleb Reynolds |
1817 | 10/19 | Jenny departed Pitcairn to Tahiti | Pitcairn | on American ship Sultan |
1817 | 12/7 | Bligh died of cancer | London | buried at Lambeth |
1819 | 1/18 | British ship Hercules arrives at Pitcairn | Pitcairn | Capt Henderson - brought books |
1819 | 3/2 | American ship Elizabeth arrives | Pitcairn | Capt Henry King |
1819 | 3/5 | American whaler Stanton arrives | Pitcairn | Capt Burtch |
1819 | 7/17 | Jenny interview published | Sydney | in Sydney Gazette |
1820 | 1/29 | King George III died | London | Windsor Castle |
1820 | 6/19 | Sir Joseph Banks died | London | Spring Grove - Islewoth |
1821 | 4/23 | English ship Surry arrives Pitcairn | Pitcairn | Capt Thomas Raine |
1822 | 3/8 | American whaler Russell arrives | Pitcairn | CDR Frederic Arthur |
1823 | 12/10 | English whaler Cyrus arrives | Pitcairn | Master John Hall |
1823 | 12/10 | John Buffett/John Evans arrived | Pitcairn | on Ship Cyrus from London |
Year | Date | What / Event | Where | Notes |
1825 | 12/5 | HMS Blossom visited Pitcairn | Pitcairn | Capt Beechey |
1826 | 3/7 | Sarah/Sully died - Chas Christian wife | Pitcairn | Teio's baby from Tahiti |
1826 | 12/14 | Jane Quintal departed Pitcairn | Pitcairn | Ship Lovely Ann-Capt Blythe |
1828 | 11/5 | George Hunn Nobbs arrived | Pitcairn | with Noah Bunker in small boat |
1829 | 3/5 | John Adams died | Pitcairn | Buried on Pitcairn/ b. 1763 London |
1829 | 3/14 | Teio/Mary died | Pitcairn | John Adams wife - blind |
1831 | 2/10 | Peter Heywood died - Post Captain | England | after distinguished naval career |
1831 | 3/7 | Pitcairners move to Tahiti | from Pitcairn | via Lucy Ann & Comet |
1831 | 3/21 | Pitcairners arrive in Tahiti | from Pitcairn | via Lucy Ann & Comet |
1831 | 4/21 | Thursday October Christian died | Tahiti | first born on Pitcairn |
1831 | 4/29 | Vahineatua/Prudence died | Tahiti | Mills/Adams consort |
1831 | 6/9 | Toowhaiti/Nancy died | Tahiti | Tararo/Williams/Young consort |
1831 | 6/27 | 1st Pitcairners back to Pitcairn | from Tahiti | via Courier de Bordeaux |
1831 | 9/3 | Last Pitcairners back to Pitcairn | from Tahiti | via Am whaler Charles Doggett |
Tehuteatuaonoa/Jenny died | Tahiti | Adams/Martin consort | ||
1832 | 10/28 | Joshua Hill arrived | Pitcairn | via barque Maria from Tahiti |
1834 | 3/10 | William Purcell died - Carpenter | England | Last of Bounty crew - in asylum |
1837 | 12/9 | Joshua Hill departs Pitcairn | Pitcairn | via HMS Imogene/ Capt Bruce |
1838 | 11/29 | Pitcairn became British Colony | Pitcairn | HMS Fly - Capt Russell Elliott |
1838 | 11/29 | Edward Quintal 1st Chief Magistrate | Pitcairn | election supervised by Elliott |
1841 | 9/14 | Mauatua/Maimiti died | Pitcairn | Christian/Young consort |
1850 | 7/15 | Teraura/Teopiti/Susannah died | Pitcairn | Young/Quintal/T.O. Christian |
1856 | 5/2 | Pitcairners move to Norfolk Island | Pitcairn | via HMS Morayshire 194 poeple |
1856 | 6/8 | Pitcairners arrive at Norfolk Island | Norfolk Island | on HMS Morayshire |
1858 | 3/15 | Wild Wave crew - Capt Knowles | arrive Pitcairn | in boat from wreck on Oeno Island |
1859 | 1/17 | 1st Pitcairners back to Pitcairn | from Norfolk Island | via brig Mary Ann |
1863 | 12/18 | 2nd Pitcairners back to Pitcairn | from Norfolk Island | via ship St Kilda |
1884 | 11/6 | George Hunn Nobbs died | Norfolk Island | |
1891 | 5/5 | John Buffett died | Norfolk Island | |
1891 | 12/30 | John Evans died | Norfolk Island | |
1886 | 10/18 | John Tay arrives via sloop Pelican | Pitcairn | Seventh-day Adventist layman |
1890 | 11/25 | Schooner Pitcairn arrives | Pitcairn | with John Tay & SDA Minister |
1892 | 1/8 | John Tay died | Suva, Fiji | born 1831 - USA |
This extensive chronology is the work of, and used by permission of, Butch Kerr, a long-time student and researcher of “The Bounty Saga.”
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