Fletcher Christian, for one, was a MUTINEER who famously led the mutiny on the British Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty in 1789. He was a master's mate on the ship and led a group of sailors in a revolt against the captain, William Bligh. The mutiny was successful and Christian and his followers took control of the ship, eventually sailing it to Pitcairn Island. Christian's actions were seen as heroic by some, but he was later arrested and tried for his role in the mutiny.