The forgotten history of Pitcairn Island

The History Guy explains how the sun never sets on the British Empire and the forgotten history of Pitcairn Island where the survivors of the mutiny on HMS Bounty settled.
The History Guy uses images that are in the Public Domain. As photographs of actual events are often not available, I will sometimes use photographs of similar events or objects for illustration.
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The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered (formerly "Five Minutes of History") is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.
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The episode is intended for educational purposes. All events are presented in historical context.
#worldhistory #thehistoryguy #pitcairn

[@John-yy1oy]

channels like this need to become hugely popular so that networks like Discovery and History will notice there is still a market for actual academic history.

[@neilwilson5785]

We are all here now. I only watch Forged in Fire on the main networks, or BBC nature and science stuff. After midnite, of course, you can view the "Hitler had spaceships" content

[@buttzkrieg3919]

You are correct sir

[@allandavis8201]

100% in agreement, the History and Discovery channels should be made to change their name, neither channel has the moral standing to be described as educational. The owners or share holders be ashamed of the way they have put profit before content, even the National Geographic channel has more “reality shows” featuring things like survival shows featuring totally bogus “isolated” wilderness and even more bogus family’s, even well known survivalists like Bear Grhyills (? Spelling) have been forced to reveal that most of the time whilst being alone in remote areas he is in fact no more than a few miles from civilisation and spends the nights in hotels, and they call that “reality”?, codswallop.

[@hawaiiaerialvisionsllc5373]

Dj Phantom I believe you may be my doppelgänger. I was reading your comment which reflects my thoughts exactly even down to the vernacular and was wondering “when did I write this?” When I got to the end and saw “codswallop” I knew it must have been my post Then glancing to your moniker I see Dj Phantom. On some social media my name is Puna Phantom because I fly DJI Phantoms commercially and I live in Puna.

[@ealdredaruspex5819]

There are too many Ancient Alien stories to cover!!

[@wrightflyer7855]

The first I heard of Pitcairn Island was from my grandfather, who for many years until his death in 1974 communicated regularly with the islanders by short wave radio. Sitting in his shack with him when I was a boy in the 1950s was a real education in geography, history and sociology.

[@markfryer9880]

I live in Melbourne Australia and I used to see houses with cobbled together short wave radio set ups in their back yards. Don't see as many set ups these days, bit of a dying hobby I suspect. Have to keep my eyes open.

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

I connected with pitcairn in the late 70's as a ham operator too.. amateur radio is a fabulous hobby for so many reasons. I still hold my operators license.

[@davidharris6581]

I have heard that same story from others. I think raising Pictarin is a bit of a milestone for Hams.

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

Midway Island was big deal for hams too. I still have QSL cards from these far away islands. The larger world was such an exotic place when you could discover it on your own...

[@pinball7113]

@@michaelmccarthy4615 virgin

[@trezpozgmail7292]

Thank you for all the work you do. You are a literal gentleman and scholar.

[@yumayuma4700]

Seven degrees of separation: I went the Massachusetts' Maritime Academy with a guy named Pitcairn who was a direct descendant of the Pitcairn family who the island is named after. Ironic connection to Mass. too in that John Pitcairn, who was the father of Robert Pitcairn, who the island is named after, was a British Army Officer who had a horse shot out from underneath him at Lexington and Concord and was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

[@silvertbird1]

That is extremely interesting. I wonder if there are still Pitcairn descendants in the country today.

[@silentotto5099]

A good companion to this video would be a look at Capt. Bligh's feat in sailing to Timor after the mutiny, a harrowing adventure marked by an impressive display of seamanship on the part of Bligh. It's also worth noting that the men who were mentioned as landing at Tahiti after the mutiny weren't themselves mutineers, but instead were members of the crew who had remained loyal to Bligh. The boat in which Bligh and his loyalists were set adrift was too small to accommodate all of the men who had remained loyal to Bligh, so those four were forced to remain on HMS Bounty until they could be put ashore.

[@oliverlane9716]

The feat of seamanship was so excellent he was acquitted at his court martial. He was a terrible leader but incredible sailor.

[@marksieber4626]

He was involved in three mutinies during his career. Keep in mind the Royal Navy was in a constant state of war throughout the period and ships were under the Articles of War. Reforms were unlikely.

[@RichardFenno]

I worked aboard the QE2 on her last World Cruise in 2008. We docked her at Pitcairn and had the obligatory postal stamp visit from the natives. Wish we could have visited their island, but the sea was not obliging. Nonetheless, the natives were friendly and regaled us with stories of the island's history. Anyway, thanks for bringing them up in my mind. Their story needs telling!

[@alexandrag337]

Captain Bligh (after who our rum was named) was heading here to St Vincent when the mutiny occurred. We have the oldest botanic gardens in the western which still contain the descendants from the trees he brought on the HMS Providence in the second attempt which was successful. From our Botanic Gardens they were distributed throughout the West Indies.

[@hipocampelofantocame]

When I was in the seventh grade (1947), I read the "Bounty Trilogy" in the school library, and was fascinated by the last book, Pitcairn's Island; I lived on an island in Tampa Bay during the war. Lying in bed to go to sleep, I would devise my own survival techniques. How nice it is to have an historical follow-up on something still close to my heart. Thanks

[@ShowCat1]

You should get some kind of an award for your channel.

[@matturner6890]

@@cory8837 haha wow fuck you. You go make a better video then.

[@neilwilson5785]

I hit like. It's an award every time. This channel is excellent.

[@WatchmyPlaylist.]

@@cory8837 you think society today still reads? Bahaha

[@duncanyourmate2433]

I agree, a recognition for putting Pitcairn underwater, everyone knew the poms would come back for "their tax" they we of the south Pacific, they just randomly taxed as an where they wanted, told us nothing . Just took, from the people

[@duncanyourmate2433]

they have never been given credit ,for their defense of the terrible set of circumstances alleged , throwing anybody ,yes things went off tap, and now they are better off, and its about time anzacs stopped hassling its yesterday's news It is to old has nothing to do with current circumstances ,be kind to touse , -

[@keithlincicum3691]

Hello, I enjoy your short interesting renditions of history. You may find this odd, but I find them restful. When I was a boy in the 60s there was this lady on PBS in Spokane Washington that had access to a fast collection of pioneer diaries. Once a week (I forgot what day) she had a program on the radio during which she would read portions of them. I had three much-older sisters with an abusive father, so tension was always high. Her voice would take me away at least for awhile. Thanks for your passion and desire to share. KL

[@jenniferknight1511]

Interesting...I use his short reports to fall asleep also. Would love to hear the lady read pioneer diaries!

[@deadalready7467]

Love how the comments add all sorts of tangential history. It’s wonderful how the story continues thru them. Many Blessings All 🙏🇺🇸

[@williambartlett2761]

James Michener won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, Tales of the South Pacific. The chapter entitled 'Mutiny' deals with the survivors of the Bounty and their descendants on Norfolk Island. A moving work, this chapter deals with the tale of Norfolk Island as a penal colony, along with the Pitcairn people who moved there. I can't recommend this book highly enough. The Pulitzer Prize was richly deserved.

[@38dedo]

Wow I don't even know how I managed to find this little hidden gem of a channel but I'm glad I did.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you! "Hidden gem" is high praise!

[@zzyzxzee6374]

Yes and i thought the internet was only good for buying cheep stuff, cat and porno. I for one appreciate good history lessons. The channel is great

[@samsquanch4201]

Oded agreed👍🏻

[@religonomega5660]

YO me to legit excited love history

[@LePrince1890]

Robert Pitcairn was the younger brother of Major John Pitcairn, the English soldier who fought at Lexington and Concord, and was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill (or Breed's Hill).

[@hoodoo2001]

Major Pitcairn was a Marine. Also he was Robert's father, not brother.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

@@aspenrebel actually the militia said Bunker Hill was given instructions to shoot the officers. Aim for the pretty waistcoats I believe was the order. Linear tactics was designed to take advantage of gunpowder, the brown Bess and at the same time it was adapted to the Infantry phalanx that has been adapted for literally thousands of years. It wasn't until World War 1 when the machines of War overcame the tactics of War, that new schools of thought were adopted to increase the velocity of War and bring back the balance of weapons and tactics. The principles of the Battle of Marathon still apply to this day velocity, shock and Firepower applied at the point of attack. By running down the hill at the Persians the Greeks in the Battle of Marathon applied velocity and shock. The inability of the Persians to organize a defense allowed the Greeks the further advantage of applying Firepower to the point of attack. We may fly, we may have push-button Warfare, we may have mastered fission as a weapon of War , but the principles of the Battle of Marathon continue to this day. The tools have changed but the principal's remain the same

[@aspenrebel]

@@JohnRodriguesPhotographer Woof!! How was a "hill" given instructions to do anything? Actually the battle took place on Breed's Hill. Plus there was no actual "infantry phalanx" taking place on either side. Stupid British General Howe, just had his troops march up the hill. A hill which was overgrown with brush, so it was not an easy task. The Americans (aka Colonists) just waited at the top and shot the shit out of the British. The British suffered a very high casualty loss (I forget the extent at this moment), a much higher than normal or acceptable percentage. The Americans were greatly outnumbered. They did what they could, shot their wad, then ran like hell. So in actuality it was a British battle victory. But we, Bostonians, consider it was a victory for us. It was psychologically, and in the long run. They high % of losses revealed what a buffoon General Howe was, and it gave a shot in the arm to the Revolution. That the Americans had a chance to defeat the British, the greatest military in the world at the time, if they used more "guerilla" tactics. The only, or just one of only few (I forget right now), time the Americans engaged the British in traditional open field battle was earlier on. Washington commanded the battle in Brooklyn, and nearly got wiped out completely and captured. He managed to salvage what he could of his command, got them across the river to Manhattan, then out of NYC area. After that, it was mostly small sneak attacks, war of attrition (thank you wilderness terrain), taking what we could, and haing the upper hand and outnumber the British when we could. Ex: Ethan Allen and The Green Mountain Boys hauling captured cannons from Ft. Ticonderoga in upper NY State, and moving them all the way to Boston .... IN WINTER!!!! Then Americans quickly setting up a cannon artillery site on Dorchester Heights in South Boston (not in Dorchester section of Boston). At dawn the cannons were pointed down at the British ships in Boston Harbor. The British fled Boston, ultimately to Nova Scotia, never to return. That was on "Evacuation Day" March 15th. There wasn't too much "velocity, shock, and firepower" on the part of the Americans, we didn't have it. Many of our victories, we simply caught the British "sleeping" and/or the British commanders were so incompetent. Plus many British troops didn't want to be there, and many of the hired mercenaries were Germans who didn't want to be there. Basically they got fed up with it. We had NO Navy, vs greatest Navy in the World. At most we had a handful of small coastal sailing sloops. The rest were just long boats, to row across a river. American troops probably had less than 50% support of the civilian population. Most didn't want their economic situation turned upside down. The British never committed the resources required. The long distance communication between Parliament/King George III and "the Colonies" was a factor. The Americans got very little support from outside, until at the very end. Lafayette came with some help, but most of the French troops that did come over spent most of their time "drilling" in Rhode Island. Lafayette, singularly, was a huge emotional catalyst due to his enthusiasm and dedication to Washington. We had our share of incompetent buffoons in command, to be sure. "Velocity, shock, and firepower" doesn't always result in victory. Just ask Queen Bodica. Estimated she had about 70,000 people against a Roman Legion amounting to...... (I forget now) ... I say no more than 700, may have been less. The Romans wiped out the Icenians. Queen Bodica and her 2 daughters were never seen nor heard of again.

[@aspenrebel]

@@hoodoo2001 What the hell was a British MARINE doing at Lexington and Concord? That makes no sense. Was there a Pitcairn at L and C? Yeah we shot the shit out of them there, too, all along "Battle Road" on the way back to Boston.

[@aspenrebel]

@@JohnRodriguesPhotographer Oh oh oh oh. I didn't understand what you were saying, before, at the beginning (it's late here). OK, yeah, the idea was to shoot and kill the British officers in command, cut off the head, then the rest would have to retreat because they wouldn't know what to do cuz no one was giving them any more orders.

[@jeffbangkok]

4 AM back in Bangkok coffee with THG. Having a good old episode made a great start to the day.

[@johndillon2456]

This is one of my destinations as I make my way around the world. Thank you, for a wonderful lesson.

[@outwiththem]

Say hi to the Pirate Pedophiles.. And give them money too. They will ask.

[@38bass]

This is the best channel!!!!!!! Thank you so much for your tremendous contribution to keeping history alive!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@lorin7981]

William MCcoy (the mutineer that died of drunkenness) is my ancestor. According to family history he tied a rock to his neck and jumped off a cliff, drowning himself. Ironically, he was the one who discovered how to make alcohol on the island.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Queen Of Hearts it could not have been an easy life.

[@lorin7981]

Not at all. Researching my family history has been fascinating but rather sad in parts such as this. I'm from Australia and will definitely visit the island one day. Thanks for the great content ✌

[@gulfrelay2249]

Lorin O'Keeffe more like he discovered that you could make alcohol on the island. guarantee he knew HOW.

[@robertte3320]

@@lorin7981 That's amazing you are related. Witness accounts given by John Adams and many of the women who saw it happen, still in the archives in England, actually say he tied a piece of metal around his neck (as Fletcher Christian had done at the time of the mutiny). Also you might like to read Peter Fitzsimon's book 2018 - on the Mutiny. Very well researched. Its all a tragic story in the end.....

[@kiwihib]

Lorin knew several Pitcarn Islanders here in New Zealand funny thing was in their passport the males all whore dresses.

[@softunderbelly8368]

Fabulous work. I've not been disappointed once with your videos. Thank you.

[@debschurr9846]

Thank you for such interesting and informative snippets of history. Truly delighted by your varied educational subject matter.

[@joeljohnson3515]

Holy crap!! I don’t know why I haven’t found this channel before. I’ve been binge watching this channel for the last two days (recovering from surgery). I am hooked!

[@RockyMountainPeterbilts]

I found Pitcairn on a map when I was a kid. I have been fascinated with it ever since. Would love to visit sometime. Did not know that level of history. Thank you!

[@dannyspencer6194]

This is such a good rendition of Pitcairn Island. Short and sweet and impressive!

[@randominfo7985]

My father lived on pitcairn for many years he told me many storys of how they lived on the island.....you left out the hill of great difficulty lol thankyou for taking you time to make this it was very informative.

[@MJMucha]

I really enjoy your videos. And I find them so entertaining and informative, that I have passed along your channel to several teachers that I know. They all agree with me and will try to incorporate some of your videos into their classroom curriculum. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to making history interesting and... not forgotten!

[@Pilotweldman]

Having read the Mutiny on the Bounty long ago, then watching this clip and enjoying it so much, I went to the Pitcairn website and helped them out a bit. I purchased some of the most fantastic PITCAIRN HONEY that money can buy. Oh, it took a while to arrive (about 3 months) but OH SO WORTH THE WAIT!!! This honey has a very tropical tone and I don't share it with anyone!! Heh..heh..heh.... (MINE MINE MINE!!) Love this guy 'the history guy' can't wait to meet him....someday....well, it could happen!

[@cuencaview8303]

Appreciation for this channel is immense pleasure.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

This is one of my favorite channels. I salute your professionalism.

[@rd7068]

very informative.... youtube was actually designed for guys like you to share your knowledge...until all nonsense click-baiting took over. I subscribed, waiting for more. All the best.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

T Rex thank you for the compliment. There are 96 more videos in the channel if you want more. More will be coming, but not for a couple of weeks due to equipment issues. It is funny what you say about KZbin, since I am not allowed to monetize most of my episodes. Apparently anything dealing with war is not “advertiser friendly.”

[@writerconsidered]

Wow the youtube Algorithm is like a blind man with a sledge hammer in a crowded elevator. Thanks for your videos this is a really great channel and I'm glad I found it.

[@mikebronicki6978]

This the second of your videos that I watched, I am a fan! One small complaint, would it have killed you to show us Pitcairn Island on a map? I love geography as much as history.

[@moondancer3157]

Hey T. Rex! I haven't seen your name in a while!🌹

[@neilwilson5785]

Just ignore the top 500 KZbin channels, and pick the interesting ones, and it is actually an amazing resource.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

For exclusive content and behind-the-scenes fun, join our community of fans and supporters at thehistoryguyguild.locals.com! As many viewers have noticed, I mention "Victorian virtue" before the actual Victorian era. I am sorry for the error. The relevant point is that when the island was discovered, Adams was not punished for the mutiny because it appeared to be a thriving, devout community free from vices.

[@TheDeepening718]

It's fascinating how myth saved them from elimination.

[@conceptexterior]

@@TheDeepening718 qqq

[@keithtorgersen9664]

There’s a debate on whether Pitcairn or Tristan DeCunha is considered the most remote island. My understanding is that Pitcairn is the most remote by distance measured but Tristan DeCunha qualifies due to length of time traveled.

[@Lost-in-Wonderland]

I'm currently awake watching this at 00:03 GMT from England. Thank you for these great videos. They soothe my inquisitive soul. Xxx

[@bigjake2061]

I served sevnteen years in the USN Surface Fleet. I often use the word "wilderness" to describe crossing the Earth's oceans. Another favorite descriptor is a quote attributed to Francis Scott Key, paraphrased, " being in the Navy is like being in prison with a chance of drowning". These two thoughts put together go a long way in describing the experiences of sailors past and present. The sailors of the HMS Bounty had this experience in the life. It is that Point of View which history hopes to capture. Thank you for your stewartship of their memory and their Pitcairn's grandchildren.

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

I know of Pitcairn island because as a teenager I was big into amateur radio and once communicated with a ham operator on the island. I still have a QSL card (confirmation of radio contact) from Pitcairn... the world didn't seem so large as these radio operators on little islands were the rock stars of the airwaves. They had plenty of new people to talk to

[@lrodpeterson3046]

Tom Christian, a descendant as one might guess, was VR6TC and was well known in amateur radio circles to be quite available to those wishing to "work" Pitcairn. I, too, have a QSL from Pitcairn, but it seems it was a visitor using Tom's equipment and a different call.

[@mtl-ss1538]

@@lrodpeterson3046 Pitcairn Island advertises teaching position ..!!! www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?objectid=12342469&&ref=recommended ..

[@LewisBeck]

I recall reading the trilogy, Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea and Pitcairn's Island. What a story--one that indeed "deserves to be remembered"! Many thanks (yet again) History Guy. You're doing a great job; please keep it up!

[@daveroche6522]

Thank you again HG - I love that fact that you cover so many historical events (and their repercussions) - I really liked studying history in school but of course, that was all exam based (so just learn/regurgitate the facts) - sure appreciate it (and your presentations) a lot more now. Thank you again, Sir.

[@jimtwohig7414]

Enjoyed your narration! It’s no longer rushed and staccato. What a great “site” you now have!

[@gr8life04]

Fascinating! I just watched the excellent drone tour of the island and this was the perfect follow-up

[@blindsherpa]

love all your films..thank you for existing

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

You are welcome!

[@skypilot23]

Thank you for this channel history is fascinating and you have great narrative!

[@williamtiebout4142]

Excellent snippets... please keep up the good work, thank you

[@c0137509]

In case one forgets the villain in the Mutiny of the Bounty Capt Bligh successfully navigated the small launch, he and a dozen or so loyal members of the crew 2000 + miles to the friendly port of Timor. A feat of seamanship unequaled until arguably Shackleton's Antarctic voyage in a small boat from Elephant Island to the whaling station at St. George's Island, some 900 miles. Although a shorter distance, Antarctic weather conditions undoubtedly were much more severe than Blighs tropical voyage, although the heat is no fun either. Bligh then went on to be Governor of Australia, only to suffer another mutiny at the hands of his soldiers over alcohol use, I believe. I am sure my facts could be suspect, but one fact that I can personally attest to is the conditions in Antarctica, as I was a crew member aboard the USCGC Glacier Operation Deep Freeze "78-79, so I missed the episode you covered about the Glacier by a few years. Nice to see that. Love your channel

[@sammylong3704]

Bligh suffered from 3 different mutinies. He was a great navigator and seaman but a terrible captain and leader of men.

[@MilesLougheed]

As the History Channel hasn't aired any actual historical content in years, you could probably rename your channel to The History Channel and win any legal challenge they bring.

[@povertybarnperformance]

If it doesn't have aliens, bigfoot, or Hitler's alien bigfoot, it wont be on the history channel, so, yeah, you're right lol

[@carlgharis7948]

You're right aside from around Christmas when they play history of Christens Muslims and Jews how each religion relates. And a maybe 1 other time of the year they'll rerun mankind the story of all of us for a week. They don't play history. They play bullshit shows such as paw stars or whatever I don't watch

[@juansanabria6804]

And yes I do enjoy your segments greatly appreciated!

[@WaltzingAustralia]

Your obvious delight in the subject matter makes the tale all that much more fun.

[@Nour1476]

your channel is gonna be big , keep up the good work ;)

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!

[@samiam619]

Don’t know how I missed this episode, but glad YT suggested it. I cannot recommend The Bounty Trilogy enough. A great read. Not only tells the story of the Mutiny, but shows how Captain Bligh was one of the best sailors in the world, if a bit of an AH. Remember, Bligh suffered or caused 2 (TWO!) mutinies. The second when he was Governor of Australia... P.S. the third book is about the mutineers and what happened to them on Pitcairn Island.

[@tinderbox218]

I have those books but haven't read them yet. Looking forward to it!

[@Tmrfe0962]

Fascinating barely touches your well researched and informative “snippets “ of our human history. Your documentation of these events, brings us closer together reminding us of our shared experiences. During this holiday season, it’s nice to remember we are more alike than not...(barring the awful child abuse you reported here) and that we as human beings, can always rise and persevere.

[@kathyboxx3678]

I thoroughly enjoy your channel! Thank you for sharing!

[@StephenJohnson-jb7xe]

I just found your channel today and absolutely love your presentation of historic events, you are fantastic with history but not so good with a stop watch.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

the original idea was five to ten minutes long. As they've all gone closer to ten, i am planning to rename the channel. I just have to pick a new name.

[@StephenJohnson-jb7xe]

My comment was just a bit of fun, in all seriousness it's the content that matters and you put a lot of content into your ten-ish minute videos. By all means , if you believe it is necessary, change the name but I doubt it matters all that much. I am looking forward to watching more on your channel.

[@wcolby]

Its cool to see the subscriber number just going up & up...

[@K1lostream]

Have a like, sir! In particular, props for the writing and delivery of the summary at the end - one of your best!

[@elizabethbower2168]

What an interesting video thanks for taking the time for making it and sharing with us

[@BRATPAC1]

My great grandmother was a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, being born on Pitcairn Island and moved to Norfolk when she was young. She went on to meet my great grandfather before they settled in Australia.

[@poetnathan26]

Very interesting! I subscribed. Looking forward to watching all your content. Thanks for the investment of your time:)

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Nathan Anderson thank you! And thank you for the investment in your time! There are fifty episodes in the series so far, and more added each week.

[@LizardKing1086]

Hear, hear.

[@DrRich-mw4hu]

Well said!

[@peachybee3883]

I love your shows. Thanks history guy!

[@camillecosta2725]

Facinating. Stories you don't find in history books.

[@peterfeltham5612]

Really fascinating,and very well presented by HG.

[@christopherberg5380]

The episode was informative as usual. But I must say that the ending synopsis was so well written and spoken, that it made me pause and appreciate it. I took notice.

[@allisonpower2594]

We sailed there on our yacht. We had a great time, with some of the friendliest most self reliant people we have met. The shop is only open 1 hour 3 times a week! There no natural safe harbour and no airstrip, They speak a mixed pidgin / old English amongst them selves, but perfect English as well.

[@UTubeGlennAR]

:} Vary interesting but sad in ways, Big Thank U......... Having been born and raised till age nine on a Pacific island my self in the olden days, there is a large part of me that would like to visit PI for a few months and be part of their labor team. I love to travel BUT I now must admit to my self that I just abhor the travel part of traveling n even more so now that I am 68.5 years old.... Keep up the good work............ :}

[@fergusmallon1337]

Gawd, you make 68.5 sound like you have one foot in the grave

[@Rocio1988]

Very informative channel on shortest explanation on world' history. I enjoyed to get knowledge about Pitcairn Island' history. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@tomnekuda3818]

I'm a long-time member of your interesting uploads. Thank you so much for the work you put into your history......it sure beats what I learned in high school! Good luck to you.

[@GeorgeSemel]

A Better Story is William Bligh, he sailed an open boat 4000 nm! A masterful bit of seamanship! And would become an Admiral in the Royal Navy!

[@Nastyswimmer]

Yes, a brilliant navigator - but not so good as a leader of men

[@iroscoe]

He Captained two ships in fleet actions to great affect so he certainly had some leadership skills .

[@hamishdavidson3368]

Yes Fletcher Christian kept the K2 marine chronometer and only gave Captain Bligh a sextant I believe. Other notable career highlights of Bligh. 1.Served as Master under Captain James Cook on his last voyage 3. Was Governor of New South Wales where he was apprehended in the “ rum rebellion” another mutiny of sorts or coup de te.

[@aussiedonaldduck2854]

Not just an Admiral but an Admiral of the Blue - a senior position.

[@terryv]

Nastyswimmer - But a brilliant navigator and seaman. And didn’t he successfully lead an open boat full of men, in tight quarters and dire circumstances? Don’t rely solely on the movie.

[@backchat8086]

Great video.

[@ninaporras9723]

This is a very comprehensive and complete summary about the history of Pitcairn. I subscribed.

[@jerryumfress8340]

I love history too, and I really like your channel and subscribed some months ago. Keep up this very important work!

[@ohmitered408]

Very interesting! I subscribed

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

ohmitered408 thank you!

[@hipocampelofantocame]

In 1946 when I was twelve years old, my father (English prof) gave me the "Bounty Trilogy" to read, and it literally changed my life. Pitcairn Island (I was living on a small island at the time in Tampa Bay) pointed me toward the future. Today's parents do not realize the importance of focusing their young progeny on understanding the future. I am a long retired general pediatrician. I love your shows.

[@NatashaArts]

I have always enjoyed learning of the history of Pitcairn Island, it always fascinates me. there is so much history and it's always a great read when I do go and study about it. Great video! One of my favourite subjects.

[@OrioleFan443]

This was a great video, one of the best IMHO. Thank you. Great closing thoughts too!

[@markfryer9880]

Actually the whole subject of Honey Bee Hive Collapse Syndrome could make for a very interesting history at the cutting edge video for The History Guy.

[@theharbinger2573]

I love you videos. I would also like to add that Pitcairn Island honey is amazing. It is expensive as heck and takes a long time to get - but oh my is it delicious.

[@KathleenJean53]

Very informative. Civilization is indeed a very delicate balance. I very much enjoyed your presentation.

[@LorenzBaermann]

This was a fantastic chapter! Very enjoyable. Thank you

[@denniscarlson8264]

Could you do an episode on Bligh’s journey in a long-boat to British authorities? It’s an amazing feat of seamanship.

[@nielskjr5432]

It really is. Only half of them survived. But still, it's a very long journey in small rowing boat.

[@merafirewing6591]

And it was in a launch, not a longboat.

[@billyramone3413]

greetings from Ireland, you make history live

[@marksullivan7557]

Thank you for your open minded approach, thank you for your depth.

[@geneirvine9710]

Thank you for the fantastic information !

[@sick4652]

Very interesting this motivates me more to move there

[@sick4652]

Scott Laux well you can apply to move there

[@ps2hacker]

I want to add a couple of details that are interesting, and you didn't mention. First, Bligh's mission to deliver the breadfruit, then return to England would have made him and his ship the Bounty, the first ever to circumnavigate the entire Earth. Second, the Bounty wasn't actually a navy ship, which are purpose built by the navy, but rather it was purchased privately, and was what it officially called a "collier", but Bligh described in more detail as a "garbage scow". It was a tiny little thing made for doing runs around the Thames Estuary, not for the open sea. He went on to explain that it was thought that it's shallow draft and relatively flat bottom would be less likely to get snagged on a coral reef, and sink, which was a big concern. It was outfitted with enough guns to defend itself, but wasn't originally intended to be. That takes huge balls, imo, to try to be the first one to sail the world, and do it in a garbage scow. One more thing, Bligh was the victim of 3 different mutinies in his career.

[@kevinchappell3694]

UNITED POLICE STATES OF AMERICA 3? Not disagreeing, but I only know of two. What are the two others you know? Thanks.

[@ps2hacker]

Let's see, one I can remember right off the top of my head, was when Bligh was the governor of Australia, and that one was called the "Rum Rebellion". Okay, got it, the other one was called the "Nore Mutiny". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bligh#Subsequent_career_and_the_Rum_Rebellion Bligh had an amazing life, and was IMO, one of, if not the greatest sea captain of all times. When his crew mutinied, they put him, and the officers that remained loyal to him on a long boat, and he sailed that thing over 1000 miles to the nearest civilization, which was Australia, and he nailed it. In addition, there was never any doubt about the matter in his mind, which, in turn, made the people in that rowboat with him believe that he could do it. He was a hero. And lets face it, how fucking big do the man's balls have to be to agree to be the first person ever to circle the planet, and he takes the garbage scow that was never meant to, and had never left the Thames Estuary before that.The guy had balls the size of basketballs, and made of hard cast brass. That was a major cause of his crew's mutiny, it was the longest, hardest voyage ever attempted, in tiny ship that had one cabin, that was Blgh's until they got to Polynesia, then the breadfuit saplings got the room, and Bligh was sleeping outside on the deck, in the weather with the rest of his crew. Literally, it only had one cabin. It was a tiny thing. I am fairly confident that he set another record for the smallest ship ever to undertake an epic cross ocean voyage like that. He was either brilliant, or nuts. Or maybe both, I'm not sure. I read his book, and he was an elegant writer, which is kind of funny, Bligh was in the Navy from 10 years of age, his whole life, really. And he was by ALL accounts of those who knew him personally, a sailor's kind of sailor, and described as a "foul mouthed man". But you'd never get that reading his writing. But that being said, having been raised from childhood by the navy, it shouldn't come as any surprise that he was something of a hard ass. He would be a very by the book kind of guy, I should think. And he was probably used to dealing with fools, and not likely to suffer them much. In the military in those days, most officers got the job because they were aristocrats, usually the younger sons who, by law could not inherit a single sent from their father's estate, and need some kind of career. Bligh, on the other hand, was the other kind of officer, one who worked his way up from nothing, the kind who's job it was to keep their superiors from looking bad, when they were usually morons. That's what you do when you have a bad captain: promote him off the ship. If I had to be stuck out in the middle of the ocean in any kind of boat, William Bligh would be the guy, or kind of guy I'd want to have with me. I was fascinated with Bligh's story, he has an awfully bad rep for someone who was as accomplished as he was. I don't think he deserved it at all.

[@kevinchappell3694]

Ahhh, but the Nore Mutiny wasn't directed at Blight personally. That was a more general action against Command. but still, I suppose that still may him involved in such an event. Good catch!

[@ps2hacker]

Yeah, he didn't really have good luck in that department.

[@cicero2]

Bligh had more than his share of luck and skill in abundance, when he navigated the loyal crew to Timor. He took them to safety after a voyage of more than 4,000 miles in an open boat.

[@colinp2238]

I'm glad that I stumbled across your channel. Your videos are informative, varied, correct and unbiased which is a rarity on YT channels. Also you cover topics that are not in vogue, as most do. I look for many more to come. What about covering the mutiny on the Bounty just to compliment this one?

[@jackbarrett4458]

Great video. Really enjoy the channel!

[@patriley9449]

Another great video. Although a student of history, I always learn something new from your videos. One thing that seems to be avoided about Pitcairn is discussion of the generations of inbreeding. Has this caused problems with health and general well-being of those who live there or have lived there in the past ?

[@Automedon2]

There was a time when most of the world was heavily inbred. People lived in small tribes and communities remote from one another without access to new blood. It's kind of strange to think that if you go back far enough, much of the world is related.

[@markfryer9880]

I thought that you raised an interesting point about PI honey bees being one of the few places free from Hive Collapse Syndrome. I know that Australian Bio Security officials and Agriculture organisations are very concerned about keeping Australia free from the paracitic bug. If Australia falls to this disease, world agriculture will be in serious danger due to the loss of honey bees for plant polenation. Having a thriving honey business safely tucked away on PI could well be what brings the island to world attention as it becomes the honey bees (and our) lifeboat till we can defeat this bug.

[@ncbluegrassevents1984]

2022 Australia is now fighting the Hive Collapse Syndrome for the first time. May God have mercy on us all.

[@manuxx3543]

There's many others pollinators tho Bees are generalist usually yep, one of many, so humans prefer them But lots of specialist does as well

[@johndillon2456]

I love the lifeboat analogy.

[@zyxw2000]

Another excellent video, well-constructed.

[@Chrisamos412]

You love history, I love history, I’ve got goosebumps 😁 thank you for posting all this terrific history, outstanding!

[@brianmalady1190]

You should cover Bligh's sailing feat to get that small boat to Indonesia with I think no loss of life

[@Paperbagman555]

Lovely video - very concise history lesson. I've been obsessing over the checkered history of this place. According to wikipedia, in 1936 the population was 250 (although its cited source says 200). In 1940, the population dropped to 163. Why such a big drop in only four years? I know that back then there was less medicine, but the drop is significant compared to the other recorded census data. If you can share any insight on this, please do! Cheers for the upload.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Paperbagman555 the population on Pitcairn actually fluctuates more by emigration than mortality. As the island became less isolated, some people wanted to see the wider world. Communities of former Islanders started in New Zealand, and more islanders moved to join them. That is what is represented in the population decline after the peak in 1936.

[@colinp2238]

Maybe it was people getting away because of the Japanese?

[@markfryer9880]

Not so much about getting away from the Japanese but rather I suspect that the population drop would primarily have been from millitary service age males leaving for the war probably by way of New Zealand, traveling through or service with .

[@sharonbowers9929]

Love your videos. Thank you.

[@eddiedoncaster3565]

Always interesting content ! So varied too ! I do enjoy this channel !

[@colonialgal1750]

Bligh was also subject to another 'mutiny'. Please cover the Rum Rebellion, in Sydney in the colony of New South Wales, in 1808. Australia has a fascinating history. I am biased of course. 😎🇦🇺

[@jeffwisener1378]

I believe the USA, Canada, and Australia are the closest to each other when referring to history.

[@rajivmurkejee7498]

Yes Bligh was a magnificent seaman but a tyrannical leader . takes a special talent to be mutinied against twice in one working life

[@CallieMasters5000]

I've heard complaints that the British government spends millions to keep Pitcairn going, which is a ridiculously high amount per person. They also pay for police, medical, and teachers, mainly from New Zealand. To get there you fly to Tahiti, then on to Mangareva, and then a couple days by boat.

[@whitemage024]

You are one of my top favorite channels,love your videos.

[@don2458]

Extremely informative, very fasciating and enjoyable. Very well done. Thank you.

[@ps2hacker]

I have a suggestion for you, History Guy: The life's story of King Kamehameha the Great. It's one of the most amazing stories I have ever read, but goes largely under the historical radar. There was a prophecy when he was born, that he would be the "killer of kings", so his uncle, the king, tried to have him killed the day he was born. And ends with the fulfillment of that prophecy, when he united Hawaii into a single kingdom, to stand on it's own with the rest of the world that they never even knew existed before he was 21, or so. Kamehameha was one of the envoys from the royal court that met Cpt James Cook on his first voyage there. I'm sure it was a life changing even for him. And it was his introduction to the means of his rise to power: the FIREARM. Kamehameha was by all accounts, 7', 6" tall, and about 500lbs of solid muscle when he was a young man. An American reporter who was on Oahu, and eye witnessed the Battle of Oahu said you could see Kamehameha clearly, even in the chaos of battle, since everyone else only came up to his belly button. And as he worked his way through the battle, he would grab men's heads with each of his hands and snap their necks in a way that sort of made him look like he was swimming. And the last thing the books might not tell you, 100 years after the battle (1795), surveyors went in preparing to build the (old) Pali Highway, in 1895, and they found about 800 human skulls at the bottom of the famous Pali cliffs where his enemies all jumped off the cliff at the end of the battle. Prisoners of war in Hawaii could expect to be sacrificed to the war god, Ku, for Kamehameha was also the high priest of Ku's temple in Kawaihai. He built that temple, since the prophecy said it was a requirement for his rise to greatness. You can scoff all that if you want to, it could just be an astounding coincidence, but it did, in fact, all come true. Then, once kind of Hawaii, he had a complete change of nature, and became the great father of the Hawaiians, and a pacifist. Kamehameha put down the "law of the splintered paddle", the first time in human history that anyone suggested that there should be certain rules applied to the business of war. It was the original ancestor of the Geneva Convention, and he invented the concept of a "war crime". I'm done, go read everything you can find. And warning in advance, for some reason, even today, Hawaiians are secretive, and won't always all tell you everything when it comes to Kamehameha the Great. So read as much as you can find.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Kamehameha I is a really interesting person, and it was a fascinating time in history that deserves to be remembered. The overall subject of his life is, I think, too broad for this channel, but I hope to put together a topic or two relevant to the period.

[@ps2hacker]

That story would make a great epic movie, it has all of the right elements that writers usually have to make up. There would be small areas demanding a little bit of creative license, but just to fill in small details that are missing from the historic record, and not for elaboration, just what I assume has to be factual. Things like his motivation. But you would need a really big, imposingly muscular, Polynesian lead actor, which pretty much leaves you with Duane Johnson, and I don't know if he could pull it off. It would require serious professional acting chops, and it would be very different kind of role for him. But you never know. I love history, and like movies based on actual historical events. It's not an easy subject, though, compared to fiction meant to be just a great story. They seem to come in 2 kinds, though: those that take too much license with the facts, to make a great story (these tended to be based on writings of the real life people, and it's THEIR version of history that THEY want to convey to history), and the type that real life was so much stranger than fiction that no matter how over the top they can make it look on the screen, they still can't convey how amazing it really was, no matter how over the top the special effects can ever make it appear in a movie. Those are the ones, as a historian who knows the real story, I like the best. There have been a number of movies made about the Tuskeegee Airmen over the years, that despite the best intentions, fail to live up to the real life. Their record speaks for itself: not only were they the only squadron that EVER brought back EVERY bomber they were assigned to escort in ANY paricular mission they were assigned to escort, but they brought back EVERY bomber they EVER escorted. That speaks volumes of those guys, and it has never come off on the screen. They were trained by a racist military in order to prove that black pilots weren't as good as white pilots, and they did that: they were the absolute best we had. In fact, many bomber crews wouldn't fly certain missions unless they were their escorts. But the bomber crews had no idea who they were, as the movies would lead you to believe. At 24,000 feet, they had to wear goggles and face masks to breathe, and their faces couldn't be seen. There was a famous story about one who went to their club, and bought them all drinks, I read it, but it went more like he had no clue who they were, until someone who didn't like him clued him in because he was such a racist. This guy just wanted to thank the pilots of the Mustangs with the red tails who he firmly believed he owed his life to many times over. The guy said that even when they literally drove over the railroad tracks to get there, he still never saw it coming until he walked into a room full of black men and was properly introduced, and that he was so ashamed of everything he was raised to believe that he broke down and cried. Now THAT is a moment in history. And he said he never used that "N" word again, and had to politely ask them what they would prefer to be called, because he honestly didn't know any other word to use, even when not being derogatory. It was the only one he ever had. Some elements of the truth of that were in the last movie, but still failed to live up to history. That sort of reality of history is hard to convey in a movie, no matter what your special effects budget is.

[@ps2hacker]

@vachief That's a guess on my part, based on what artists made him look like when he was older. But the guy was 7', 6" tall, he was a big guy. There is a wrestler called "The Big Show", and he's only ("only"?) about 7", and 500lbs, it's a good guess. And I am sure how tall he was, even if I can barely imagine a guy that big. But he was huge.

[@josiahgodwin2933]

Interesting, I think how the "Law of the broken paddle" came about was Kamehameha was making war on a village, he came upon two fishermen and just as he was about to kill them he got his foot stuck in a rock. Seizing their opertunity the fisherman threw a net over him and hit him with a canoe paddle so hard it broke. Years later Kamehameha met these fishermen but realized they were trying to protect their families from the harm of war and not oppose him. He showed mercy by saying he had no Ill will and his only wish was that they would have a great long life. Fascinating story there

[@ps2hacker]

@@josiahgodwin2933 As the story went, Kamehameha asked that fisherman why he didn't kill him, and the man replied "I thought I did". It is interesting how Kamehameha was able to switch gears, and change rolls and become the great protector and father to his people once he had power. He kind of stepped back after that, and let his first wife Ka'ahumanu run things, which wasn't very popular, but that's another story. I hope you read the whole story, I was captivated by it, and read everything I could find, it's a great story.

[@OGMann]

The genetics of the population should be an interesting study.

[@russellmilton8957]

Great content, well delivered 👏🏻

[@johnclayden1670]

Thanks: I much enjoy these snippets.

[@JosephFerreiraJr]

One correction: you stated John Adams was pardoned for upholding “Victorian” values? How if Victoria wouldn’t be born until 1819 and wouldn’t reign until 1837? Pitcairn was visited in 1809 and Adams died in 1829.

[@nevik9199]

the history guy -great content but would like better use of maps

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I agree. The simple problem is that maps are usually copyrighted and not in the Public Domain.

[@tonyd75]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel You might find this webpage helpful: www.publicdomainsherpa.com/public-domain-maps-resources.html

[@robertfromtexas2480]

Great video! I've actually looked into moving to Pitcairn.. glad you picked this subject

[@cephasmartin8593]

Another great video. I knew about the mutineers who settled there, but hadn't given any thought about the island and its population since learning about it in high school some 50+ years ago. Thanks for another interesting and informative video.