Did William Bligh go to jail?

Answer 1

William Bligh was assigned as Governor to the colony of New South Wales in 1805. He proved himself to be a strong character, receiving criticism for his seemingly despotic ways, and apparent disregard for English law as opposed to his own law. However, he had a significant critic in grazier and wool grower John Macarthur, who convinced men from the New South Wales Corp to rebel against Bligh. On 26 January 1808, twenty years after the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, Governor Bligh was overthrown and replaced with a military Junta. This event later became known as the Rum Rebellion, though it had nothing to do with rum. The name came about because Bligh asserted that Macarthur's main attack against the Governor came about because of his prohibition on Spirits.

The Rum Rebellion caused Bligh to be imprisoned from 1808 to 1810. Evidence suggested the catalyst to the event was more a clash of strong personalities than any real disregard for English laws. Bligh was known for his violent temper and tendency to alienate others, but his motives were honourable. Bligh was exonerated in 1811, after which he returned to England.

Answer 2

Yes, William Bligh was briefly imprisoned after the famous mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789. He was detained by the mutineers on Tahiti but later managed to escape and made his way to safety.