Enlightenment · Oceania · Exploration

1789

Mutiny on the Bounty

April 28, 1789

In Pacific waters near Tonga, acting lieutenant Fletcher Christian led part of HMS Bounty's crew in mutiny against Captain William Bligh. Bligh and loyalists were set adrift in an open boat - and sailed 3,600 miles to Timor. The mutineers, fearing the gallows, eventually found Pitcairn Island and vanished. Their descendants still live on Pitcairn today, speaking a creole blend of English and Tahitian.

More from 1789 Enlightenment

In context

Also in 1789 (6 other events on record)

Storming of the Bastille · Europe · Politics
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen · Europe · Politics
Washington's Inauguration · North America · Politics
Estates-General Opens at Versailles · Europe · Politics
Tennis Court Oath · Europe · Politics
Women's March on Versailles · Europe · Politics

Before and after in Oceania

Before: January 26, 1788: First Fleet Arrives at Sydney Cove
After: 1810: Kamehameha Unifies Hawaii

Before and after in Exploration

Before: August 8, 1786: First Ascent of Mont Blanc
After: 1795: Mungo Park Explores the Niger

Era

Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.

Sources

Wikipedia: Mutiny on the Bounty