Bond, Francis Godolphin, Rear-Admiral, 1765-1839.

They consist of forty letters from Bligh to Bond, twenty-eight of which deal with the voyage of the Providence, three with the mutiny on the Bounty and the remainder with Bligh's efforts to promote Bond's career. There are also letters from others in the Providence and some notes by Bond on the voyage about Bligh.

Administrative / biographical background
Bond, whose mother, Catherine, was a half-sister of William (later Admiral) Bligh (1754-1817), entered the Navy as a captain's servant in 1774. In 1779 he was promoted to midshipman and in 1782 to lieutenant. On the recommendation of Bligh he was appointed First Lieutenant of the Providence in 1791 and accompanied him on the second breadfruit voyage, 1791 to 1795. He held various further appointments as lieutenant, was made a commander in 1800 and a captain in 1802. He was made a rear-admiral in the general promotion of 1837. The documents have been used in George Mackaness ed., 'Fresh light on Bligh' (published privately, 1953).