The Bounty

The dashing young fellow above is one Fletcher Christian, born this day 1764 in Cumberland, England. Raised in genteel poverty that was in the main brought on by his mother's irresponsibility with money, Christian joined the British navy in 1783. However, as most of us know it is for his actions on the HMS Bounty that has gained him hero status. Setting sail two days before Christmas in the year 1787, the Bounty's mission was to sail to Tahiti, and bring back breadfruit, and breadfruit plants for transplanting of the crop to the West Indies. It was seen as a cheap source of food for the slaves on the sugar plantations there. The Bounty spent five months in Tahiti, gathering and raising breadfruit plants. It was by all accounts paradise, half naked, uninhibited, beautiful native women, plentiful food, abundant sunshine, and a relaxation of ship's discipline. The Bounty eventually set sail for its homeward voyage on April 4th, 1789, Christian was leaving behind a native wife, and possibly a child. On April 28th mutiny broke out, and Captain Bligh and 18 loyal men where cast adrift in the ship's launch. Once again all the details of the mutiny and its aftermath are easily discovered. Christian was a man tormented by his choice, during the mutiny he was repeatedly heard proclaiming that "he was in hell." Clearly, a man at war with himself, and his actions. But, for showing us that sometimes rebels just have to rebel in order to be true to themselves, and in spite of some of his reprehensible actions, Fletcher Christian (September 25th 1764-October 3rd, 1793, killed on Pitcairn's Island at the age of 29), you are my hero of the day.