James Morrison (mutineer) facts for kids
James Morrison (born 1760, died 1807) was a British sailor. He was part of the famous Mutiny on the Bounty. This event involved the crew of a ship called the Bounty taking control from their captain.
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James Morrison: A Sailor's Story
James Morrison grew up in Stornoway, a town on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. His father was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods.
James joined the British Navy when he was 18 years old. He served on different ships. He was a clerk on the Suffolk and a midshipman on the Termagant. A midshipman was a junior officer in training. In 1783, he passed an important test to become a master gunner. This meant he was skilled with the ship's cannons.
The Bounty Voyage and Mutiny
James Morrison became the boatswain's mate on board the ship Bounty. A boatswain's mate helps manage the ship's ropes, sails, and anchors. He wanted to join the Bounty because it was going on a special trip. This trip was a "scientific expedition" to collect breadfruit plants from Tahiti.
After the mutiny happened, James Morrison was one of 16 crew members who went back to Tahiti. The leader of the mutiny, Fletcher Christian, and eight others sailed the Bounty to Pitcairn Island.
Building a Ship in Tahiti
While on Tahiti, James Morrison and some others tried to build their own ship. They worked for eight months using wood from the island. Their secret plan was to sail to Batavia (now Jakarta in Indonesia) and then return to England.
They named their new ship Resolution. They even prepared food for the long journey. But they faced many problems. They did not have the right tools to navigate, and their ship's sails and ropes were not strong enough. They also could not carry enough fresh water. So, they had to give up their plan.
Capture and Journey Home
On March 29, 1791, Captain Edward Edwards of HMS Pandora captured James Morrison and the other mutineers in Tahiti. They were taken back to England for a court martial. A court-martial is a military trial.
Captain Edwards took Morrison's newly built ship, renamed it Matavai, and used it as a smaller support ship. Later, the Pandora was wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef. The surviving crew and prisoners, including Morrison, had to use small boats to continue their journey. They were later happily reunited with the crew of the Matavai in Java.
Court-Martial and Later Life
At his trial on September 18, 1792, James Morrison was found guilty. He was sentenced to a very serious punishment. However, the court asked the King to show him mercy. With help from a letter praising his good character, James Morrison was pardoned on October 26, 1792. This meant he was forgiven and set free.
While he was in prison, Morrison wrote a detailed story about the Bountys journey. He also described the island and customs of Tahiti. He wrote that Captain Bligh, the Bountys captain, treated his officers badly. He also felt that the officers did not do enough to stop the mutiny.
After being pardoned, James Morrison went back to serving in the navy. He became a master gunner again. He fought in battles in the Mediterranean Sea. He also worked as a gunnery instructor.
Sadly, James Morrison died in February 1807. He was serving on HMS Blenheim, a large warship. The ship sank during a powerful storm called a tropical cyclone off the coast of Madagascar. Everyone on board was lost.
