British Naval Officer. Surgeon on the HMS Bounty. Commander William Bligh knew of the doctor's alcoholism and tried to get him replaced before the Bounty sailed, but the British Admiralty refused his request. Bligh then engaged Thomas Ledward as a Surgeon's Mate. Huggan's incompetence caused the death (from surgical infection) of seaman James Valentine aboard the Bounty in October 1788. Huggan himself died six weeks after the ship reached Tahiti. He was the first Englishman (and only the second European) to be buried there.∼Surgeon (Died before the Mutiny)
Prior to the voyage, Bligh unsuccessfully tried to remove him from the roster describing him with 'his indolence and corpulency render him rather unfit for the voyage'.
It was because of this that Bligh recruited Ledward, a man with at least as much medical training.
Huggan appears to have been a drunkard, although he was popular with the Tahitians.
He was referred to as 'Old Bacchus' in the fictional "Mutiny on the Bounty". This use of a pseudonym, one of only two used in the book (the other being Heywood) leads to the supposition that his family was prominant and/or his earlier record was of a higher quality than Bligh seemed to indicate.
Bligh describes his last days. "The surgeon had been a long time ill, the effect of
intemperance and indolence.
He had latterly scarce ever stirred out of his babin, but was not apprehended to be in a dangerous state; nevertheless this evening (9 Dec 1788) he appeared to be so much worse than usual, that it was thought necessary to remove him to some place where he could have more air, but to no effect, for he died an hour afterwards.
This unfortunate man drank very hard, and was so averse to exercise that he never could be prevailed on to take half a dozen turns upon deck at a time, the whole of the voyage."
He was buried on Tahiti, with a great deal of native ceremony, so as to ward off spirits.
Prior to the voyage, Bligh unsuccessfully tried to remove him from the roster describing him with 'his indolence and corpulency render him rather unfit for the voyage'.
It was because of this that Bligh recruited Ledward, a man with at least as much medical training.
Huggan appears to have been a drunkard, although he was popular with the Tahitians.
He was referred to as 'Old Bacchus' in the fictional "Mutiny on the Bounty". This use of a pseudonym, one of only two used in the book (the other being Heywood) leads to the supposition that his family was prominant and/or his earlier record was of a higher quality than Bligh seemed to indicate.
Bligh describes his last days. "The surgeon had been a long time ill, the effect of
intemperance and indolence.
He had latterly scarce ever stirred out of his babin, but was not apprehended to be in a dangerous state; nevertheless this evening (9 Dec 1788) he appeared to be so much worse than usual, that it was thought necessary to remove him to some place where he could have more air, but to no effect, for he died an hour afterwards.
This unfortunate man drank very hard, and was so averse to exercise that he never could be prevailed on to take half a dozen turns upon deck at a time, the whole of the voyage."
He was buried on Tahiti, with a great deal of native ceremony, so as to ward off spirits.
British Naval Officer. Surgeon on the HMS Bounty. Commander William Bligh knew of the doctor's alcoholism and tried to get him replaced before the Bounty sailed, but the British Admiralty refused his request. Bligh then engaged Thomas Ledward as a Surgeon's Mate. Huggan's incompetence caused the death (from surgical infection) of seaman James Valentine aboard the Bounty in October 1788. Huggan himself died six weeks after the ship reached Tahiti. He was the first Englishman (and only the second European) to be buried there.∼Surgeon (Died before the Mutiny)
Prior to the voyage, Bligh unsuccessfully tried to remove him from the roster describing him with 'his indolence and corpulency render him rather unfit for the voyage'.
It was because of this that Bligh recruited Ledward, a man with at least as much medical training.
Huggan appears to have been a drunkard, although he was popular with the Tahitians.
He was referred to as 'Old Bacchus' in the fictional "Mutiny on the Bounty". This use of a pseudonym, one of only two used in the book (the other being Heywood) leads to the supposition that his family was prominant and/or his earlier record was of a higher quality than Bligh seemed to indicate.
Bligh describes his last days. "The surgeon had been a long time ill, the effect of
intemperance and indolence.
He had latterly scarce ever stirred out of his babin, but was not apprehended to be in a dangerous state; nevertheless this evening (9 Dec 1788) he appeared to be so much worse than usual, that it was thought necessary to remove him to some place where he could have more air, but to no effect, for he died an hour afterwards.
This unfortunate man drank very hard, and was so averse to exercise that he never could be prevailed on to take half a dozen turns upon deck at a time, the whole of the voyage."
He was buried on Tahiti, with a great deal of native ceremony, so as to ward off spirits.
Prior to the voyage, Bligh unsuccessfully tried to remove him from the roster describing him with 'his indolence and corpulency render him rather unfit for the voyage'.
It was because of this that Bligh recruited Ledward, a man with at least as much medical training.
Huggan appears to have been a drunkard, although he was popular with the Tahitians.
He was referred to as 'Old Bacchus' in the fictional "Mutiny on the Bounty". This use of a pseudonym, one of only two used in the book (the other being Heywood) leads to the supposition that his family was prominant and/or his earlier record was of a higher quality than Bligh seemed to indicate.
Bligh describes his last days. "The surgeon had been a long time ill, the effect of
intemperance and indolence.
He had latterly scarce ever stirred out of his babin, but was not apprehended to be in a dangerous state; nevertheless this evening (9 Dec 1788) he appeared to be so much worse than usual, that it was thought necessary to remove him to some place where he could have more air, but to no effect, for he died an hour afterwards.
This unfortunate man drank very hard, and was so averse to exercise that he never could be prevailed on to take half a dozen turns upon deck at a time, the whole of the voyage."
He was buried on Tahiti, with a great deal of native ceremony, so as to ward off spirits.
Gravesite Details
Buried Near Point Venus; alothough Bligh left a discription of the appromimate location of gravesite the gravesite itself is unmarked and lost
Advertisement
Advertisement
