Naval Career
William Bligh's naval career consisted of a variety of appointments and assignments. He first rose to prominence as Master of HMS Resolution, under the command of Captain Cook. Bligh received praise from Cook during what would be the latter's final voyage. A summary follows:
| Date | Rank | Ship (number of guns) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 1761 – 21 February 1763 | Ship's Boy and Captain's Servant | HMS Monmouth (64) |
| 27 July 1770 | Able Seaman | HMS Hunter (10) |
| 5 February 1771 | Midshipman | HMS Hunter |
| 22 September 1771 | Midshipman | HMS Crescent (28) |
| 2 September 1774 | Able Seaman | HMS Ranger |
| 30 September 1775 | Master's mate | HMS Ranger |
| 20 March 1776 – October 1780 | Master | HM Sloop Resolution (12) |
| 14 February 1781 | Master | HMS Belle Poule |
| 5 October 1781 | Lieutenant | HMS Berwick (74) |
| 1 January 1782 | Lieutenant | HMS Princess Amelia (80) |
| 20 March 1782 | Lieutenant | HMS Cambridge (80) |
| 14 January 1783 | Joins Merchant Service | |
| 1785 | Commanding Lieutenant | Merchant Vessel Lynx |
| 1786 | Lieutenant | Merchant Vessel Britannia |
| 1787 | Returns to Royal Navy | |
| 16 August 1787 | Commanding Lieutenant | HM Armed Vessel Bounty |
| 14 November 1790 | Commander | HM Brig-sloop Falcon (14) |
| 15 December 1790 | Captain | HMS Medea (28) (for rank only) |
| 16 April 1791–1793 | Captain | HMS Providence (28) |
| 16 April 1795 | Captain | HMS Calcutta (24) |
| 7 January 1796 | Captain | HMS Director (64) |
| 18 March 1801 | Captain | HMS Glatton (56) |
| 12 April 1801 | Captain | HMS Monarch (74) |
| 8 May 1801 – 28 May 1802 | Captain | HMS Irresistible (74) |
| March 1802 – May 1804 | Peace of Amiens | |
| 2 May 1804 | Captain | HMS Warrior (74) |
| 14 May 1805 | Appointed Governor of New South Wales | |
| 27 September 1805 | Captain | HMS Porpoise (12), voyage to New South Wales |
| 13 August 1806 – 26 January 1808 | Governor of New South Wales | |
| 31 July 1808 | Commodore | HMS Porpoise (12), Tasmania |
| 3 April 1810 – 25 October 1810 |
Commodore | HMS Hindostan (50), returning to England. |
| 31 July 1811 | Appointed Rear Admiral of the Blue (backdated to 31 July 1810) | |
| 12 August 1812 | Appointed Rear Admiral of the White | |
| 4 December 1813 | Appointed Rear Admiral of the Red | |
| 4 June 1814 | Appointed Vice Admiral of the Blue | |
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