The navy's most famous mutiny broke out on a ship carrying plants.

1789

The Bounty was taking breadfruit seedlings from Tahiti to the West Indies when its crew rose up in 1789.

◍ Show on the globe

The event

• Mutiny on the Bounty1789 · Off Tofua, Tonga. The Bounty was carrying breadfruit seedlings from Tahiti to the West Indies when in April 1789 Fletcher Christian led a mutiny. Captain Bligh and 18 loyal men were set adrift in a launch, which Bligh sailed 6,700 km to Timor. The mutineers hid on Pitcairn, where their descendants still live.

18th century

More amazing facts

• 1787 · 1788 British Australia exists partly because of American independence.
• 1789 Captain Bligh, set adrift by mutineers, sailed 6,700 km in an open boat.
• 1789 · 1792 Dr Guillotin did not invent the guillotine and opposed the death penalty.
• 1789 When the Bastille was stormed on 14 July 1789 it held just seven prisoners: four forgers, two lunatics and one aristocrat.
• 1789 George Washington's false teeth were not wooden.
• 1790 · 1808 The Bounty mutineers' hideout was found only 18 years later.

All amazing facts (1058) →