William Bligh was a British naval officer and colonial governor best known for his role as captain of the HMS Bounty during the infamous mutiny in 1789. He was also the governor of New South Wales, Australia, and faced another mutiny during his time in that position. Bligh is remembered for his strict discipline and controversial leadership style, which often led to conflicts with his crew and subordinates. Despite these challenges, he was a skilled navigator and made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of the Pacific region.