| Authorised form of name | Bligh; William (1754 - 1817) |
| Dates | 1754 - 1817 |
| Place of birth | St Tudy, Cornwall, England |
| Date of birth | 04 October 1754 |
| Place of death | Bond Street, London |
| Date of death | 07 December 1817 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Baptism:
St Andrew's Church, Plymouth (04 October 1754)
Burial:
The eastern part of Lambeth churchyard, near the Tradescant tomb, by the side of his wife, Elizabeth Betham |
| Activity | Career:
Entered Royal Navy; Accompanied Captain Cook as sailing master in the Resolution on his 2nd voyage round the world (1772-1774) and discovered bread fruit in Otaheite; at the battle of Dogger Bank (05 August 1781); fought under Howe at Gilbralter (1782); appointed to the Bounty (1787) on an expedition to take bread fruit plants from Otaheite to West Indies; he and 18 of the crew were cast adrift after a mutiny, and reached Timor; Bligh finally returned to England (1790); Second expedition more successful and bread fruit brought to West Indies in HMS 'Providence'. Received gold medal from RSA. Commander; Post Captain; commanded Glatton at battle of Copenhagen (1801); Captain General (1805); Governor of New South Wales, but deposed and imprisoned by Major Johnstone; Rear Admiral of the Blue (1811)
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| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 21/05/1801 |
| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB |
| Code | NA7421 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| MM/8/67 | Letter from Nevil Maskelyne, Soho Square, to Sir Joseph Banks | 26 May 1809 |
| MM/19/121 | Letter from Joseph Banks to George Leonard Staunton | 15 February 1794 |
| EC/1801/08 | Bligh, William: certificate of election to the Royal Society | |