James Morrison (mutineer)
Encyclopedia
James Morrison was a British
seaman and mutineer who took part in the Mutiny on the Bounty
.
in Scotland
where his father was a merchant and land entrepreneur. He joined the navy
at 18, serving as Clerk on the Suffolk, Midshipman
on the Termagant, and Acting Gunner on the Hind. In 1783, he passed his Master Gunner's examination.
After the mutiny, Morrison was one of 16 mutineers who returned to Tahiti
after the failed attempt to build a colony on Tubuai, while Fletcher Christian
and 8 others sailed the Bounty on to Pitcairn Island.
Along with the others who then lived as 'beachcombers' in Tahiti, he was captured here by Captain Edward Edwards of Pandora
on 29 March 1791, and brought back to England for court-martial.
While on Tahiti, he led an eight-month effort to build a schooner from local timber with which he secretly hoped to get to Batavia in the Dutch East Indies and from there return to England. He kept this to himself until the project was nearing completion, when he took a few others into his confidence. The schooner completed and christened Resolution, they spent many days boiling seawater to get salt sufficient to cure hundreds of pounds of pork for which they in turn had to build casks. They departed from Tahiti the day before the Pandora dropped anchor in Matavai Bay; but in the end the voyage was given up as impracticable owing to their lack of navigation instruments, problems with the schooner's rigging and their inability to carry sufficient water. However when the Pandora departed with the mutineers locked up in Pandora's Box. Captain Edward Edwards had confiscated and renamed the schooner Matavai, after ordering it re-rigged with canvas and rope from the Pandora's stores. The schooner was manned by some of the Pandoras and taken along as a tender. Six weeks later the Pandora and the Matavai became separated, and Edwards, giving her and her crew up for lost, sailed on. The Pandora later came to grief on the Great Barrier Reef, and the surviving crew and prisoners, 99 men in all, had to use the ship's boats to continue on. When they reached Samarang, Java
, the Matavai and her crew were there. Having arrived in Surabaya five weeks earlier, they were making their way to Batavia (Jakarta) under a military escort, the Dutch governor suspecting them of being pirates from the Bounty. Edwards eventually purchased the schooner by paying the crew their share of the prize money, and gave it to the governor of Batavia as a gift.
were pardoned on 26 October 1792. While incarcerated, Morrison wrote an account describing the Bountys journey and the island and customs of Tahiti. He was very critical of Bligh's behavior toward his officers. He was even more critical of the officers at the time of the mutiny, writing 'The behaviour of the Officers on this Occasion was dastardly beyond description none of them ever making the least attempt to rescue the ship...'
Following his pardon, Morrison returned to naval service. He reached the rank of Master Gunner, and saw action in the Mediterranean. After serving as a gunnery instructor in Plymouth
, he joined Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge in his flagship the Blenheim
, on which he had served as a young Gunner's Mate prior to his Bounty experience. The Blenheim sank on 1 February 1807 in a tropical cyclone
off Madagascar
with the loss of all on board.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
seaman and mutineer who took part in the Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty
The mutiny on the Bounty was a mutiny that occurred aboard the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty on 28 April 1789, and has been commemorated by several books, films, and popular songs, many of which take considerable liberties with the facts. The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian against the...
.
Early career
James Morrison was a native of Stornoway on the Isle of LewisLewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
where his father was a merchant and land entrepreneur. He joined the navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at 18, serving as Clerk on the Suffolk, Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on the Termagant, and Acting Gunner on the Hind. In 1783, he passed his Master Gunner's examination.
The Bounty
James Morrison was the Boatswain's Mate on board the Bounty. The Master Gunner's position having been filled two days prior to his application, he may have taken the lesser post because of his eagerness to go along on the 'scientific expedition.'After the mutiny, Morrison was one of 16 mutineers who returned to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
after the failed attempt to build a colony on Tubuai, while Fletcher Christian
Fletcher Christian
Fletcher Christian was a master's mate on board the Bounty during William Bligh's fateful voyage to Tahiti for breadfruit plants...
and 8 others sailed the Bounty on to Pitcairn Island.
Along with the others who then lived as 'beachcombers' in Tahiti, he was captured here by Captain Edward Edwards of Pandora
HMS Pandora (1779)
HMS Pandora was a 24-gun Porcupine-class sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy launched in May 1779. She is best known as the ship sent in 1790 to search for the Bounty and the mutineers who had taken her...
on 29 March 1791, and brought back to England for court-martial.
While on Tahiti, he led an eight-month effort to build a schooner from local timber with which he secretly hoped to get to Batavia in the Dutch East Indies and from there return to England. He kept this to himself until the project was nearing completion, when he took a few others into his confidence. The schooner completed and christened Resolution, they spent many days boiling seawater to get salt sufficient to cure hundreds of pounds of pork for which they in turn had to build casks. They departed from Tahiti the day before the Pandora dropped anchor in Matavai Bay; but in the end the voyage was given up as impracticable owing to their lack of navigation instruments, problems with the schooner's rigging and their inability to carry sufficient water. However when the Pandora departed with the mutineers locked up in Pandora's Box. Captain Edward Edwards had confiscated and renamed the schooner Matavai, after ordering it re-rigged with canvas and rope from the Pandora's stores. The schooner was manned by some of the Pandoras and taken along as a tender. Six weeks later the Pandora and the Matavai became separated, and Edwards, giving her and her crew up for lost, sailed on. The Pandora later came to grief on the Great Barrier Reef, and the surviving crew and prisoners, 99 men in all, had to use the ship's boats to continue on. When they reached Samarang, Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, the Matavai and her crew were there. Having arrived in Surabaya five weeks earlier, they were making their way to Batavia (Jakarta) under a military escort, the Dutch governor suspecting them of being pirates from the Bounty. Edwards eventually purchased the schooner by paying the crew their share of the prize money, and gave it to the governor of Batavia as a gift.
Court-martial
At the court-martial judgment, delivered on 18 September 1792, Morrison was sentenced to be hanged. However the court recommended mercy to the King, and, perhaps aided by a letter testifying to his good character from Captain Stirling of the Termagant, he and Peter HeywoodPeter Heywood
Captain Peter Heywood was a British naval officer who was aboard HMS Bounty during the mutiny of 28 April 1789. He was later captured, tried and condemned to death as a mutineer, but subsequently pardoned...
were pardoned on 26 October 1792. While incarcerated, Morrison wrote an account describing the Bountys journey and the island and customs of Tahiti. He was very critical of Bligh's behavior toward his officers. He was even more critical of the officers at the time of the mutiny, writing 'The behaviour of the Officers on this Occasion was dastardly beyond description none of them ever making the least attempt to rescue the ship...'
Following his pardon, Morrison returned to naval service. He reached the rank of Master Gunner, and saw action in the Mediterranean. After serving as a gunnery instructor in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, he joined Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge in his flagship the Blenheim
HMS Blenheim (1761)
HMS Blenheim was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 5 July 1761 at Woolwich.-Service:Under the command of John Bazely, she took part in the Battle of Hyères Islands in 1795. Blenheim then fought at Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797. By 1801, she had become so badly...
, on which he had served as a young Gunner's Mate prior to his Bounty experience. The Blenheim sank on 1 February 1807 in a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
off Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
with the loss of all on board.
In Popular Culture
Morrison's life was the subject of a novel in Gaelic, Iain F. MacLeòid's Am Bounty (Inverness, 2008).External links
- Statement of defence Morrison gave at his court-martial.
- Complete defense Morrison presented at the court-martial of the mutineers.
- Second part of Morrison's journal describing the island and customs of Tahiti.
- Letter written awaiting Court-Martial.
- Morrison's Memorandum and Particulars respecting the Bounty and her Crew.
- Complete Morrison Journal.