John Fryer (sailor)

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Please see "John Fryer (music)" for the British music producer

John Fryer (15 August 1753 – 26 May 1817) was the Sailing Master on the HMAV Bounty, a British vessel made famous by the Mutiny on the Bounty. He had the interesting position of being a strong critic of both Captain William Bligh and mutiny leader Fletcher Christian, even at one time accusing Bligh of favoring Christian. Despite his anger at Bligh, he did not support the mutiny.

Fryer was born at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. After his naval service, he returned to Wells, and his grave in the churchyard is now clearly identified.

In 1787, John Fryer was appointed Master of the HMAV Bounty, with Fletcher Christian as Master's Mate. The Bounty's Captain William Bligh on 10 January 1788 put his crew on three watches, giving one of them to Christian; and on 2 March 1788 ordered Christian promoted to Acting Lieutenant and placed him above Fryer in the ship's chain of command. The exact reasons for Bligh's promotion/demotion order are hazy at best, with the best estimate by historians being that: a) Bligh had wanted Christian as his Sailing Master all along and resented Fryer's appointment to the position and b) Fryer had performed below the standards expected of a ship's master during the effort to round Cape Horn.

Fryer remained loyal, and accompanied Bligh in reaching Timor. Bligh's account of the Mutiny vilified Fryer, but Fryer gave fair evidence at Bligh's court-martial. Edward Christian, Fletcher's brother, was assisted by Fryer in publishing a counterweight to Bligh's version.

Although refused a reference from Bligh, Fryer rose to the top of his specialty, navigator, and later to Post Captain. He retired on April 6, 1812.^[1]

Daniel Day-Lewis portrayed him in the 1984 film The Bounty.