Richard Rodney Bligh

Bligh was born into a naval family, probably in 1737, since he was baptised on 8 November 1737 at Holy Trinity Church, Gosport. His godfather was Captain George Brydges Rodney, later to win fame during the American War of Independence, rising to the rank of admiral. Bligh's father was Richard Bligh, a lieutenant in the navy, while William Bligh, of later HMS Bounty fame, was a third cousin.{{cite ODNB| first=Madge|last=Darby|title=Bligh, Sir Richard Rodney (1737–1821)|id=2648}}. {{DNBfirst|wstitle=Bligh, Richard Rodney|first=John Knox|last=Laughton|authorlink=John Knox Laughton}}{{cite book |last=Tracy |title=Who's who in Nelson's Navy |page=43}} The younger Richard also embarked on a naval career, joining in 1750 aboard Rodney's ship, the 44-gun {{HMS|Rainbow|1747|6}}. By 1756 he had risen to midshipman and was serving aboard the 90-gun HMS Ramillies, then flying the flag of Admiral Sir John Byng. Bligh saw action at Byng's unsuccessful attempt to relieve Minorca, after which he was commissioned a lieutenant on 30 September 1757 aboard the 24-gun {{HMS|Nightingale|1746|6}}. He remained with the fleet of his patron Rodney, whom he accompanied to the West Indies. Rodney duly appointed him Master and Commander of the sloop {{HMS|Virgin}} on 22 October 1762. He carried out various cruises aboard her against enemy privateers.{{cite book |title=The Naval Chronicle |page=425}} He followed this by being made post-captain aboard {{HMS|Camel|1776|6}} on 6 December 1777. In January 1780 he commissioned the newly built {{HMS|Nemesis|1780|6}}. By 1782 he was in command of the 64-gun {{HMS|Asia|1764|6}} during the Relief of Gibraltar by Admiral Richard Howe.{{cite book |last=Tracy |title=Who's who in Nelson's Navy |page=44}}

On the outbreak of war with Revolutionary France, Bligh was initially commissioned to command the 74-gun {{HMS|Excellent|1787|6}} before being moved to {{HMS|Alexander|1778|6}} in 1794.{{cite book |title=The Naval Chronicle |page=426}} He was present during the events around the Glorious First of June as part of the attached squadron under George Montagu, but did not actively participate in the engagement. By late 1794 the Alexander and the {{HMS|Canada|1765|2}} had been assigned to escort a convoy from England to Cape St Vincent. While the two warships were returning they were spotted by a French squadron under Joseph-Marie Nielly, consisting of five 74 gun ships of the line, three large frigates and a brig. Outnumbered the British ships attempted to escape, but began to be overhauled by the French. Bligh eventually turned and engaged the French, allowing Canada to escape. After an unequal engagement during which Alexander was reduced to a sinking condition, Bligh struck his colours. The French took possession of Alexander, but owing to the damage both they and their prize had sustained, were compelled to abandon their cruise and return to port, thus allowing several approaching British convoys to reach port unhindered.

Bligh was taken as a prisoner of war, but unknown to him he had been promoted to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue on 23 October 1794. He was eventually exchanged and returned to England in May 1795, where he faced the customary court-martial for the loss of his ship. He was honourably acquitted, and allowed to take up a position under Sir Peter Parker.{{cite book |title=The Naval Chronicle |page=429}} He was then appointed as second-in-command to Sir Henry Harvey, then commander in the Windward Islands, with Bligh flying his flag aboard the 74-gun {{HMS|Brunswick|1790|6}}. Bligh arrived on station in September, but was then given new orders from Sir Hyde Parker, instructing him to go to the Jamaica Station and take command until Parker arrived the following month.Cundall, p. xx

Bligh remained as Parker's second, being promoted to vice-admiral on 14 February 1799. Bligh however incurred the wrath of Parker when, following a major mutiny, he granted pardons to two members of the crewThe two crew members pardoned by Bligh were the captain's elderly servant and his twelve-year-old son – a ship's boy on the Hermione. Neither had participated in the mutiny and Bligh concluded that they could not reasonably have been expected to have opposed armed mutineers. of {{HMS|Hermione|1782|6}} and recommended mercy for a third. Acting against regulations Parker forced Bligh to resign his command and return to Britain in the summer of 1799. In late 1803 Bligh was made Commander-in-Chief at Leith, and on the Coast of Scotland, serving under Lord Keith, before being promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Blue on 23 April 1804. He then resigned and retired from active service.

Bligh married Ann Worsley, daughter of Sir Edward Worsley in 1765. They had one son, George Miller Bligh, who went on to become a captain in the Navy. The couple also had four daughters, two of whom married naval officers, and three of whom went on to have children who became naval officers. Ann died in 1797, Richard remarrying on 28 June 1800. He was appointed a GCB on 16 May 1820, and died on 30 April 1821 at his home, Bell Vue, near Southampton, Hampshire.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924020417527#page/n27/mode/2up|title=Historic Jamaica|first=Frank|last=Cundall|publisher=West India Committee|year=1915}}
• {{cite book |first=Nicholas|last=Tracy|title=Who's who in Nelson's Navy: 200 Naval Heroes|year=2006|publisher=Chatham Publishing|location=London|isbn=1-86176-244-5}}
• {{cite book |title=The Naval Chronicle|year=1805|publisher=J. Gold|volume=13}}

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{{s-ttl | title=Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica Station| years=1796}}

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Category:1737 births

Category:1821 deaths

Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Category:Royal Navy admirals

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the American Revolutionary War

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Napoleonic Wars

Category:Sea captains

Category:Military personnel from Portsmouth