History’s most famous mutiny kicked off on 28th April, 1789, when Captain William Bligh was ousted from his ship by his former friend, Fletcher Christian, and 23 rebelling crew members: ‘The Mutiny on the Bounty’.

Bligh and 18 of his loyal crew were then set adrift in a small boat with minimal provisions, while the mutineers set sail for Tahiti.

Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how some ripening breadfruit was to blame for the mounting tensions and disillusionment among the crew members; reveal how Bligh faced (lesser-reported) subsequent incidents of mutiny; and investigate his flogging record…

Further Reading:

• ‘The real story behind the infamous mutiny on the H.M.S. Bounty’ (National Geographic, 2021): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-real-story-behind-infamous-mutiny-hms-bounty

• ‘What was the mutiny on the Bounty? Here's all you need to know’ (HistoryExtra, 2020): https://www.historyextra.com/period/georgian/mutiny-on-bounty-facts-what-happened-who-was-captain-william-bligh/

• ‘Mutiny on the Bounty - The Mutiny Scene’ (MGM, 1962): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0oqEjxOUww

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The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

This episode first aired in 2024

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