John Fryer
Encyclopedia
Captain
John Fryer RN
(15 August 1753 - 26 May 1817) was the sailing master on the HMAV Bounty, a British vessel made famous by the Mutiny on the Bounty
.
He had the interesting position of being a strong critic of both Captain William Bligh
and mutiny leader Fletcher Christian
, even at one time accusing Bligh of favoring Christian. Despite his anger at Bligh, he did not support the mutiny.
Fryer was born at Wells-next-the-Sea
, Norfolk. After his naval service, he returned to Wells, and his grave in the churchyard is now clearly identified.
In 1787, John Fryer was appointed Master of the HMAV Bounty, with Fletcher Christian
as Master's Mate
. The Bounty's Captain William Bligh
on 10 January 1788 put his crew on three watches, giving one of them to Christian; and on 2 March 1788 ordered Christian promoted to Acting Lieutenant. Some have speculated that this was the source of the ill-will that later developed between Fryer and Bligh. However, as a Master, Fryer would never have been promoted to lieutenant at sea. Indeed, he never did become a lieutenant. He served as a Master on all subsequent ships until promoted to Post Captain by the Navy Board.
Fryer remained loyal, and accompanied Bligh in reaching Timor. Bligh's account of the Mutiny vilified Fryer, but Fryer gave fair evidence at Bligh's court-martial. Edward Christian
, Fletcher's brother, was assisted by Fryer in publishing a counterweight to Bligh's version.
Fryer never received promotion, but served in the Royal Navy until 1812.
Daniel Day-Lewis
portrayed him in the 1984 film The Bounty
.
A biography of Fryer was edited by Owen Rutter
in 1939: John Fryer of the Bounty (Golden Cockerel Press).
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
John Fryer RN
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...
(15 August 1753 - 26 May 1817) was the sailing master on the HMAV Bounty, a British vessel made famous by 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...
.
He had the interesting position of being a strong critic of both Captain William Bligh
William Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
and mutiny leader 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...
, even at one time accusing Bligh of favoring Christian. Despite his anger at Bligh, he did not support the mutiny.
Fryer was born at Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea, known locally simply as Wells, is a town, civil parish and seaport situated on the North Norfolk coast in England.The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,451 in 1,205 households...
, Norfolk. After his naval service, he returned to Wells, and his grave in the churchyard is now clearly identified.
In 1787, John Fryer was appointed Master of the HMAV Bounty, with 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...
as Master's Mate
Master's mate
Master's mate is an obsolete rating which was used by the Royal Navy, United States Navy and merchant services in both countries for a senior petty officer who assisted the master...
. The Bounty's Captain William Bligh
William Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
on 10 January 1788 put his crew on three watches, giving one of them to Christian; and on 2 March 1788 ordered Christian promoted to Acting Lieutenant. Some have speculated that this was the source of the ill-will that later developed between Fryer and Bligh. However, as a Master, Fryer would never have been promoted to lieutenant at sea. Indeed, he never did become a lieutenant. He served as a Master on all subsequent ships until promoted to Post Captain by the Navy Board.
Fryer remained loyal, and accompanied Bligh in reaching Timor. Bligh's account of the Mutiny vilified Fryer, but Fryer gave fair evidence at Bligh's court-martial. Edward Christian
Edward Christian
Edward Christian was an English judge and law professor, and the older brother of Fletcher Christian, leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty....
, Fletcher's brother, was assisted by Fryer in publishing a counterweight to Bligh's version.
Fryer never received promotion, but served in the Royal Navy until 1812.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is an English actor with both British and Irish citizenship. His portrayals of Christy Brown in My Left Foot and Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood won Academy and BAFTA Awards for Best Actor, and Screen Actors Guild as well as Golden Globe Awards for the latter...
portrayed him in the 1984 film The Bounty
The Bounty
The Bounty is a 1984 British historical film directed by Roger Donaldson, starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins, and produced by Bernard Williams with Dino De Laurentiis as executive producer. It is the fifth film version of the story of the mutiny on the Bounty. The screenplay was by Robert Bolt...
.
A biography of Fryer was edited by Owen Rutter
Owen Rutter
Edward Owen Rutter was an English historian, novelist and travel writer.After serving with the North Borneo Civil Service from 1910 to 1915, Rutter returned to Britain during World War I and was commissioned. Rutter served with the 7th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment in France and on the...
in 1939: John Fryer of the Bounty (Golden Cockerel Press).
External links
- Letter and documents written by Fryer after the mutiny.