HMS Bounty
The HMS Bounty set sail in 1789. Captain William Bligh and his many crewmembers ran the ship. There was an upset between the crew and the Captain. Even though the men violated the “Articles of War” it was justifiable that they should not be punished.
The Crew of Captain Bligh, under penalty of law and the Captain, had no right to commit mutiny and remove the Captain from the ship. The “Articles of War” clearly state that if any crewmember conceals any traitorous practice or design shall suffer death or any other punishment as a court martial shall think fit. That is exactly what Captain Bligh’s crew took upon themselves. The crew had no reason to blame him for the rations of water because he was doing it to keep the breadfruit alive which was the whole reason for the mission. Indubitably the crews actions were unlawful.
The Captain of the HMS Bounty was William Bligh. He was very strict in his actions and in his punishment. He followed the “Articles of War” like the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church followed the Bible. When they were in port the Captain was very courteous and polite to everyone on the ship. He treated everyone equally and didn’t abuse his rank. That soon changed as the ship set out for the open seas and Tahiti. The crew started to challenge the Captain and he punished each person that defied him. Many of his actions were unjustifiable and should in turn be pu...
On one hand the French officials were upset a boat with a French flag that was suspected to be a French boat was captured as well as upset that the British had gone on their island and searched it without any permission given, while on the other hand the British were upset the citizens and freed blacks were sold but also were aware the vessel was searched illegally. French officials acknowledged the citizens being sold was unjust but requested that the British make protests against the English officers to prevent another situation where a suspected French vessel is boarded (Portalis). British officials were quite calm as well and requested that their subjects were found and released back to them and that Captain Owens would be talked to so no future incidents would occur. These views of top officials differed then from people directly involved quite drastically. For example Owen was livid with the situation and believed the French to be in the wrong while he was just doing his job and doing it well. This makes sense because he was directly involved and suffered as part of the situation while British officials weren’t there and no doubt had other situations to handle so they were much more calm about it all. Around this time both British and French officials wanted slavery to come to an end, French were fully committed to end the slave trade (Hyde
Magellan treated his crewmen unfairly because he felt that he had total control over them. An employer should be provided benefits, Magellan did not provide living essentials. The crewmen would sleep on the wood floors because beds or at least hammocks were not provided. For the employer that does all the work a true captain should provide for his labor-men. Also, the
Melville interjected a positive feeling into the narrative, White Jacket, by introducing three humanitarians. These included: Mad Jack, Colbrook, and Jack Chase. Each of these characters spoke out against corporal punishment in the narrative; however, the ultimate decision to punish the men remained in the hands of the unforgiving captains at sea. The main character of the novel occurred as White Jacket. Unfortunately, he committed an unwitting offense and was to be subjected to flogging. In his frantic last moments prior to flogging, White Jacket envisioned himself grabbing Captain Claret and flinging them both over the side to the more forgiving sea. Fortunately, humanitarians, Colbrook and Chase, both stepped forward at great risk to themselves and saved White Jacket from humiliation and abuse. White Jacket's desperate attempt to elude punishment conveyed to society the drastic measures needed to induce change. In the end, it remained obvious that Melville likened the ship to a working model of society. He observed that naval discipline was not compatible with democratic ideology. Author Eleanor Simpson stated in her essay, "Melville and the Negro," that Melville attacks all forms of arbitrary government and legalized brutality. Though his immediate target is the military machine as codified in the Articles of War, his whole stance is one of democratic rebellion against the law or act of government, which undermines or simply ignores the dignity and rights of men.
In June of 1772, a British schooner, known as the Gaspee, commandeered by Lieutenant William Dudingston, traveled along the Narragansett Bay in pursuit of smugglers (Park, 54-55). During the chase the ship ran aground, and the crew found themselves stuck in the shallow waters. The armed naval vessel was suddenly boarded by an angry mob; the commander was shot, the crew taken ashore, and then, the Gaspee was set aflame (Park 54-55). The attack on a British naval ship, would become known as The Gaspee Affair, and it led to the British government demanding those involved, to be tried in Great Britain, outside the colonies (Blinka, 54). Those involved in the burning of the Gaspee were never properly identified (Park 54-55) A trial never occurred, but the aftermath of the Gapsee incident set off a series of events that stirred American resistance, and eventually led to the 13 colonies declaring their independence from Great Britain.
Blackbeard was a brave and most outspoken sea rovers who operated during early 1700s in the coastal regions of the English Southern parts of the New world. His piracy activities, together with his co-pirates are key sectors in United States of America’s history. Happening in the time eminently known as the golden age of piracy, their brave advances in sea robbery facilitated the gradual demise of sea hijacking and theft on the deep seas.1
...h soldiers were prosecuted and put on trial. Only two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter. The Sons of Liberty used this event to make the Colonists understand that they needed to secede from Great Britain.
In 1807, Britain passed the Orders in Council meant to impede US trade with France. They stipulated that any goods could be seized regardless of that country’s neutrality. To make matters worse, the British were implemented the practice of impressment which pretty much means, they were kidnapping Americans from their ships so that they could supplement the British forces. In that same year, the vessel Leopard fired on the Chesapeake in American waters.
Blackbeard was one of the most feared pirates in history, because he was a ferocious and fearless man who took over many ships in his years of being a pirate. He wasn’t a good man but he was good at what he did. There was some information that was unsure of because of the time period, but there are many interesting facts about him.
Before the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, U.S. trade ships enjoyed the safety that the British Royal Navy provided. When the new nation won their independence however, the British wasted no time with informing the Barbary Pirates that the US ships were open for attack again. The Barbary pirates, who had been marauding off the coast of Africa for centuries, encountered a new enemy in the early 19th century: the young United States Navy (McNamara, 2016). The North African pirates had been a menace for so long that by the late 1700s most nations paid tribute to ensure that merchant shipping could proceed without being violently attacked. In the early years of the 19th century, the United States, at the direction of President Thomas Jefferson, decided to halt the payment of tribute (Jefferson, 2008). A war between the small and scrappy American Navy and the Barbary pirates ensued.
Captain Aubrey exhibits and demonstrates leadership characteristics that inspire his crew to be the best that they can be. One of the most important leadership traits that Captain Jack has is a single-minded focus on his purpose. All of his decisions are held up against the g...
On March 5, 1770, an event occurred in Boston, which consisted of British troops shooting upon colonists. People refer to this as a massacre, but they only look at one side of the story. The Boston Massacre in 1770 was not really a massacre, but a mutual riot (Boston Massacre History Society). British soldiers went to America to keep the people of Boston in order. However, the soldier's presence there was not welcomed by the Bostonians and this made things worse (Boston Massacre History Society). The British had to fire their guns because the Bostonians were antagonizing the soldiers, which caused five people to die. The Bostonians made the soldiers feel threatened so in turn they acted in self-defense. The British soldiers and their Captain had to go through a trial, to prove they were not to blame for what had occurred.
... to a miscommunication between the Captain and his soldiers. If the crowd had not been in such an uproar the Boston Massacre never would have happened. With all the testimony and the deposition from the Captain, the jury made the correct decision by determining Preston innocent.
On March 5, 1770, five colonists lost their lives in what American history would deem their fight for liberty; however, several British soldiers were placed on trial for murder when they were only fighting for their lives against an anger mob. John Adams, who would become our second president, defended these soldiers in an attempted to prove their innocents. The trial was held on American soil and the outcome did not fare well for the British soldiers. Adams was able to keep them from receiving the death penalty, however both soldiers were “branded” for life as murders. Boston was a cauldro...
The story begins in 1797 with an introduction explaining the phenomena of the “Handsome Sailor”. This refers to the younger, better looking sailor to which the fellow crew members flock. In this case the sailor is Billy Budd. The narrator then explains how Billy Budd ends up on the Bellipotent, after being chosen by Ratcliffe. At the time, the loyalty of any given crew was being questioned (there had been many a mutiny), and Budd seemed like the obvious choice thanks to his disposition. His new shipmates greet him with “a surprised glance of silent reproach” (Melville 3). Soon enough he wins over the crew…all but Claggart who has set out to get rid of Billy Budd (he is envious of his status among fellow crew members and his capability to be so innocent). Interestingly enough, the two, Billy and Claggart are both of the same breeding in a way.. I guess what I mean is that neither one knows of their origins. Anyway..Claggart tempts Billy Budd by sending one of the after guards to tempt him with the idea of mutiny. Billy resists. Claggart then confronts Captain Vere, voicing his concerns about Billy Budd. They bring Billy into Vere’s cabin and Vere has Claggart confront Billy. Billy is completely flabbergasted by the allegations and hits Claggart, knocking him to the ground. This blow kills Claggart. Billy is then put to trial and convicted. He is hanged before his crew and his last words are “God bless Captain Vere!” (his final act of kindness, alluding to forgiveness) (Melville 49).
At some time during the 1716 Blackbeard joined the crew of Benjamin Hornigold and at that time he was one of the most feared pirates in the Caribbean. Benjamin saw great potential in Teach and in turn gave him his very own ship to command so they could capture and corner ships more easily. Then Hornigold retired and sail the seas under his own command.