41 Facts About Peter Heywood

Peter Heywood was later captured in Tahiti, tried and condemned to death as a mutineer, but subsequently pardoned.

Peter Heywood resumed his naval career and eventually retired with the rank of post-captain, after 29 years of honourable service.

The son of a prominent Isle of Man family with strong naval connections, Heywood joined Bounty under Lieutenant William Bligh at the age of 15.

Bligh and 18 loyalists were set adrift in an open boat; Peter Heywood was among those who remained with Bounty.

Peter Heywood remained in the navy until 1816, building a respectable career as a hydrographer, and then enjoyed a long and peaceful retirement.

Peter Heywood was born in 1772 at the Nunnery, in Douglas, Isle of Man.

On his mother's side, Peter Heywood was distantly related to Fletcher Christian's family, which had been established on the Isle of Man for centuries.

In 1773, when Peter was a year old, Peter John Heywood was forced by a financial crisis to sell The Nunnery and leave the island.

Peter Heywood's family had a tradition of naval and military service.

Peter Heywood's recommendation came from Richard Betham, a family friend who was Bligh's father-in-law.

Bligh was happy to oblige his father-in-law, and invited the young Peter Heywood to stay with him in Deptford while the ship was prepared for the forthcoming voyage.

Peter Heywood was one of several "young gentlemen" aboard ship who were mustered as able seamen but ate and slept with their social equals in the cockpit.

Some men took regular partners from the native women, while others led promiscuous lives; both Christian and Peter Heywood are listed among the officers and men treated for venereal infections.

Boatswain William Cole testified that Peter Heywood had been detained on the ship against his will.

Yet Bligh himself although convived Heyward was a mutiny's leaders never mentioned in his official account of Peter Heywood laughing in his face.

Peter Heywood had in mind the island of Tubuai, 300 nautical miles south of Tahiti, partly mapped by Cook.

Peter Heywood preferred quiet domesticity in a small house with a Tahitian wife, studying the Tahitian language and fathering a daughter.

Peter Heywood later explained: "I was tattooed not to gratify my own desires, but theirs", adding that in Tahiti a man without tattoos was an outcast.

Peter Heywood, stripped naked, was one of the last to get out of the cell; four prisoners, including Peter Heywood's best friend George Stewart, were drowned, as were 31 of the regular crew.

Peter Heywood recorded that at Coupang he and his fellow-prisoners were placed in the stocks and confined in the fortress before being sent to Batavia on the first leg of the voyage back to England.

Mrs Bertie and Edgar's officers were frequent visitors to Peter Heywood, bringing gifts of food, clothing and other comforts.

Peter Heywood's case rested on a series of arguments which, as historian Caroline Alexander points out, are not wholly consistent.

Under further questioning, Cole confirmed his belief that Peter Heywood had been detained against his will.

Witnesses from the Pandora attested that Peter Heywood had surrendered himself voluntarily, and that he had been fully cooperative in providing information.

Peter Heywood concluded his defence with what Alexander terms an "audacious" assertion that had Bligh been present in court he would have "exculpated me from the least disrespect".

Peter Heywood was to remain in this station for nine years.

In 1803, after a succession of commands, Peter Heywood was promoted to post-captain.

Peter Heywood declined, and the appointment went to Francis Beaufort on Heywood's recommendation.

Captain Peter Heywood took command of HMS Dedaigneuse in April 1803 in the East Indies.

Peter Heywood then returned to the United Kingdom as a passenger on the East Indiaman Cirencester.

Peter Heywood then took Nereus to South America where he remained for three years, earning the gratitude of the British merchants in that region for his work in protecting trade routes.

Peter Heywood remained with Montagu for the rest of his naval service.

Caroline Alexander suggests that throughout his later career Peter Heywood suffered a sense of guilt over his pardon, knowing that he had "perjured himself" in saying that he was kept below and therefore prevented from joining Bligh.

On 16 July 1816, Montagu was paid off in Chatham and Peter Heywood finally retired from the sea.

In May 1818, Peter Heywood declined command of the Canadian Lakes with the rank of commodore.

In retirement Peter Heywood published his dictionary of the Tahitian language, wrote papers relating to his profession, and corresponded widely.

Peter Heywood enjoyed a circle of acquaintances which included the writer Charles Lamb, and was a particular friend of the hydrographer Francis Beaufort.

Peter Heywood destroyed much of his writing shortly before his death, but a document from 1829 survives, in which he expresses his views on the unfitness for self-government of Greeks, Turks, Spaniards and Portuguese, the iniquities of the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, and the doubtful benefits of Catholic emancipation in Ireland.

Peter Heywood's health began to fail in 1828, and he died after suffering a stroke, aged 58, in February 1831.

Peter Heywood was interred in the vault of Highgate School chapel, where a memorial plaque was dedicated on 8 December 2008, and is memorialised on the grave of his widow Frances on the west side of Highgate Cemetery.

Peter Heywood returned to London in 1810 having suffered a further rebellion by local army officers who opposed Bligh's attempts to reform local practices, as well as his rule by fiat; Bligh was again court-martialed and acquitted.