Native name	''Puleanga Fakatui o Tonga''
Conventional long name	Kingdom of Tonga
Common name	Tonga
Image coat	Coat of arms of Tonga.svg
National motto	''Ko e Otua mo Tonga ko hoku tofia''God and Tonga are my Inheritance
Image map2	Tonga.jpg
National anthem	''Ko e fasi o e tui o e Otu Tonga''''The Song of the King of the Tongan Islands''
Official languages	EnglishTongan
Demonym	Tongan
Capital	Nukualofa
Largest city	capital
Government type	Unitary parliamentary
Leader title1	King
Leader name1	Tupou VI
Leader title2	Prime Minister
Leader name2
Area km2	748
Area sq mi	289
Area rank	186th
Area magnitude	1 E12
Percent water	4.0
Population estimate rank	189th
Population census	103,036
Population census year	2011
Population density km2	139
Population density sq mi	360
Population density rank	76th1
Gdp ppp year	2011
Gdp ppp	$763 million
Gdp ppp per capita	$7,344
Gdp nominal	$439 million
Gdp nominal year	2011
Gdp nominal per capita	$4,220
Hdi year	2010
Hdi	0.677
Hdi rank	85th
Hdi category	high
Sovereignty type	Independence
Established event1
Established date1	June 4, 1970
Currency	Paanga
Currency code	TOP
Utc offset	+13
Utc offset dst	+13
Dst note	''not observed''
Drives on	left
Cctld	.to
Calling code	676
Footnote1	Based on 2005 figures. }}

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan: ''Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga''), is a sovereign state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific. Fifty-two of the islands are inhabited.

The Kingdom stretches over a distance of about in a north-south line located at about a third of the distance from New Zealand to Hawaii.

Tonga also became known as the Friendly Islands because of the friendly reception accorded to Captain James Cook on his first visit there in 1773. He happened to arrive at the time of the ''inasi'' festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tui Tonga, the islands' paramount chief, and received an invitation to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but could not agree on a plan.

Tonga is also the only island nation in the region to have avoided formal colonisation. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step towards becoming a fully functioning constitutional monarchy after legislative reforms paved the way for its first ever fully representative elections which resulted in the election of Noble Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō as its first democratically elected Prime Minister.

Etymology

In many Polynesian languages, Tongan included, the word ''tonga'' means "south", as the archipelago is the southernmost group of islands of central Polynesia. The name is pronounced as . The pronunciation is incorrect. The name of ''Tonga'' is cognate to the Hawaiian region of ''Kona''.

History

An Austronesian-speaking group linked to the archaeological construct known as the Lapita cultural complex reached and colonised Tonga around 1500–1000 BCE. Scholars continue to debate the exact dates of the initial settlement of Tonga. Not much is known about Tonga before European contact because of the lack of a writing system. However, oral history has survived and been recorded after the arrival of the Europeans. The Tongan people first encountered Europeans in 1616 when the Dutch vessel ''Eendracht'' made a short visit to the islands to trade. By the 12th century Tongans, and the Tongan paramount chief, the Tuʻi Tonga, had a reputation across the central Pacific – from Niue, Samoa, Rotuma, Wallis & Futuna, New Caledonia to Tikopia – leading some historians to speak of a 'Tongan Empire'. In the 15th century and again in the 17th, civil war erupted. Into this situation the first European explorers arrived, beginning in 1616 with the Dutch explorers Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire (who called on the northern island of Niuatoputapu), and in 1643 with Abel Tasman (who visited Tongatapu and Haapai). Later noteworthy European visitors included James Cook (British Navy) in 1773, 1774, and 1777, Alessandro Malaspina (Spanish Navy) in 1793, the first London missionaries in 1797, and the Wesleyan Methodist Rev. Walter Lawry in 1822.

In 1845 the ambitious young warrior, strategist, and orator Tāufaāhau united Tonga into a kingdom. He held the chiefly title of Tui Kanokupolu, but had been baptised with the name ''Jiaoji'' ("George") in 1831. In 1875, with the help of missionary Shirley Waldemar Baker, he declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy, formally adopted the western royal style, emancipated the "serfs", enshrined a code of law, land tenure, and freedom of the press, and limited the power of the chiefs.

Tonga became a British-protected state under a Treaty of Friendship on 18 May 1900, when European settlers and rival Tongan chiefs tried to oust the second king. Within the British Empire, which posted no higher permanent representative on Tonga than a British Consul (1901–1970), Tonga formed part of the British Western Pacific Territories (under a colonial High Commissioner, residing on Fiji) from 1901 until 1952. Although under the protection of Britain, Tonga remained the only Pacific nation never to have given up its monarchical government – as did Tahiti and Hawaii. The Tongan monarchy follows an uninterrupted succession of hereditary rulers from one family. In 1918 the influenza epidemic that spread through the world caused the deaths of 1,800 people in Tonga, approximately 8% of the population.

The Treaty of Friendship and Tonga's protectorate status ended in 1970 under arrangements established by Queen Salote Tupou III prior to her death in 1965. Tonga joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970 (atypically as an autochthonous monarchy, that is one with its own local monarch rather than that of the United Kingdom – compare Malaysia, Lesotho, and Swaziland), and became a member of the United Nations in September 1999. While exposed to colonial pressures, Tonga has never lost indigenous governance, a fact that makes Tonga unique in the Pacific and gives Tongans much pride, as well as confidence in their monarchical system. As part of cost cutting measures across the British Foreign Service, the British Government closed the British High Commission in Nukualofa in March 2006, transferring representation of British interests in Tonga to the UK High Commissioner in Fiji. The last resident British High Commissioner was Paul Nessling.

Geography

Administratively Tonga sub-divides into five divisions: 'Eua, Ha'apai, Niuas, Tongatapu, and Vava'u.

Climate

Tonga has a tropical climate with only two seasons, wetter and drier. Most rain falls around February and April. The tropical cyclone season lasts from November to April.

Politics

Tonga operates as a constitutional monarchy. Reverence for the monarch replaces that held in earlier centuries for the sacred paramount chief, the Tui Tonga. Criticism of the monarch is held to be contrary to Tongan culture and etiquette. A direct descendant of the first monarch, King Tupou VI, his family, some powerful nobles, and a growing non-royal elite caste live in much wealth, with the rest of the country living in relative poverty. The effects of this disparity are mitigated by three factors: education, medicine, and land tenure. Tonga provides for its citizens:

free and mandatory education for all

secondary education with only nominal fees

and foreign-funded scholarships for post-secondary education

The pro-democracy movement in Tonga promotes reforms, including better representation in the Parliament for the majority commoners, and better accountability in matters of state. An overthrow of the monarchy itself is not part of the movement and the institution of monarchy continues to hold popular support, even while reforms are advocated. Until recently, the governance issue was generally ignored by the leaders of other countries, but major aid donors and neighbours New Zealand and Australia are now expressing concerns about some Tongan government actions.

Following the precedents of Queen Sālote and the counsel of numerous international advisors, the government of Tonga under King Tāufaāhau Tupou IV (reigned 1965–2006) monetized the economy, internationalized the medical and education system, and enabled access by commoners to increasing forms of material wealth (houses, cars, and other commodities), education, and overseas travel.

Tongans also have universal access to a national health care system. The Tongan constitution protects land ownership: land cannot be sold to foreigners (although it may be leased). While there is a land shortage on the urbanized main island of Tongatapu (where 70% of the population resides), there is farm land available in the outlying islands. The majority of the population engages in some form of subsistence production of food, with approximately half producing almost all of their basic food needs through farming, sea harvesting, and animal husbandry. Women and men have equal access to education and health care, and are fairly equal in employment, but women are discriminated against in land holding, electoral politics, and government ministries. However, in Tongan tradition women enjoy a higher social status than men, a cultural trait that is unique among the insular societies of the Pacific.

Education

Tongans enjoy a relatively high level of education, with a 98.9% literacy rate, and higher education up to and including medical and graduate degrees (pursued mostly overseas).

Military

The Tongan government supported the American "coalition of the willing" action in Iraq, and a small number of Tongan soldiers were deployed, as part of an American force, to Iraq in late 2004. However, the contingent of 40+ troops returned home on 17 December 2004. In 2007, a second contingent was sent to Iraq while two more were sent during 2008 to be part of Tonga's continuous support for the coalition. This Tongan involvement was finally concluded at the end of 2008 with no loss of Tongan life reported.

In 2010, Tongan Brigadier General Tau'aika 'Uta'atu, Commander of the Tonga Defence Services, signed an agreement in London committing a minimum of 200 Tongan troops to cooperate with Britain’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Tonga has also contributed troops and police to the Bougainville conflict and the Australian led RAMSI force in the Solomon Islands.

Policies

The previous king, Tāufaāhau Tupou IV and his government made some problematic economic decisions and were accused of wasting millions of dollars in poor investments. The problems have mostly been driven by attempts to increase national revenue through a variety of schemes, considering making Tonga a nuclear waste disposal site (an idea floated in the mid-90s by the current crown prince); selling Tongan Protected Persons Passports (which eventually forced Tonga to naturalize the purchasers, sparking ethnicity-based concerns within Tonga); registering foreign ships (which proved to be engaged in illegal activities, including shipments for al-Qaeda); claiming geo-orbital satellite slots (the revenue from which seems to belong to the Princess Royal, not the state); holding a long-term charter on an unusable Boeing 757 that was sidelined in Auckland Airport, leading to the collapse of Royal Tongan Airlines; building an airport hotel and potential casino with an Interpol-accused criminal; and approving a factory for exporting cigarettes to China (against the advice of Tongan medical officials, and decades of health promotion messaging).

The king proved vulnerable to speculators with big promises and lost several million (reportedly 26 million USD) to Jesse Bogdonoff, a financial adviser who called himself the king's Court Jester. The police have imprisoned pro-democracy leaders, and the government repeatedly confiscated the newspaper ''The Tongan Times'' (which was printed in New Zealand and sold in Tonga) because the editor had been vocally critical of the king's mistakes. Notably, the ''Kelea'', produced specifically to critique the government and printed in Tonga by pro-democracy leader Akilisi Pōhiva, was not banned during that time. Pōhiva, however, had been subjected to harassment in the form of frequent lawsuits.

In mid-2003 the government passed a radical constitutional amendment to "Tonganize" the press, by licensing and limiting freedom of the press, so as to protect the image of the monarchy. The amendment was defended by the government and by royalists on the basis of traditional cultural values. Licensure criteria include 80% ownership by Tongans living in the country. As of February 2004, those papers denied licenses under the new act included the ''Taimi o Tonga'' (''Tongan Times''), the ''Kelea'' and the ''Matangi Tonga'', while those which were permitted licenses were uniformly church-based or pro-government.

The bill was opposed in the form of a several-thousand-strong protest march in the capital, a call by the Tui Pelehake (a prince, nephew of the king and elected member of parliament) for Australia and other nations to pressure the Tongan government to democratize the electoral system, and a legal writ calling for a judicial investigation of the bill. The latter was supported by some 160 signatures, including seven of the nine elected "People's Representatives".

The then Crown Prince Tupoutoa and Pilolevu, the Princess Royal, remained generally silent on the issue. In total, the changes threatened to destabilize the polity, fragment support for the status quo, and place further pressure on the monarchy.

In 2005 the government spent several weeks negotiating with striking civil-service workers before reaching a settlement. The civil unrest that ensued was not limited to just Tonga; protests outside the king's New Zealand residence made headlines, too. A constitutional commission is currently (2005–06) studying proposals to update the constitution.

Prime Minister Prince Ahoeitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho (Lavaka Ata Ulukālala) (now King Tupou VI) resigned suddenly on February 11, 2006, and also gave up his other cabinet portfolios. The elected Minister of Labour, Dr Feleti Sevele, replaced him in the interim.

On July 5, 2006 a driver in Menlo Park, California caused the deaths of Prince Tu'ipelehake Uluvalu, his wife, and their driver. Tu'ipelehake, 55, was the co-chairman of the constitutional reform commission, and a nephew of the King.

The Tongan public expected some changes when George Tupou V succeeded his father in September 2006. On November 16, 2006, rioting broke out in the capital city of Nuku'alofa when it seemed that the parliament would adjourn for the year without having made any advances in increasing democracy in government. Pro-democracy activists burned and looted shops, offices, and government buildings. As a result, more than 60% of the downtown area was destroyed, and as many as 6 people died.

On July 29, 2008 the Palace announced that King George Tupou V would relinquish much of his power and would surrender his role in day-to-day governmental affairs to the Prime Minister. The royal chamberlain said that this was being done to prepare the monarchy for 2010, when most of the first parliament will be elected, and added: "The Sovereign of the only Polynesian kingdom... is voluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of many of his people." The previous week, the government said the king had completed the sale of his ownership of state assets which had contributed to much of the royal family's wealth.

On March 15, 2012, King George Tupou V contracted pneumonia and was hospitalized at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong. He was later diagnosed with leukemia. His health deteriorated significantly shortly thereafter, and he died at 3:15 p.m. on March 18, 2012. He was suceeded by his brother Tupou VI.

Economy

Tonga's economy is characterised by a large non-monetary sector and a heavy dependence on remittances from the half of the country's population which lives abroad (chiefly in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States). The royal family and the nobles dominate and largely own the monetary sector of the economy - particularly the telecommunications and satellite services. Tonga was named the sixth most corrupt country in the world by Forbes magazine in 2008.

Tonga was ranked the 165th safest investment destination in the world in the March 2011 Euromoney Country Risk rankings.

The manufacturing sector consists of handicrafts and a few other very small scale industries, all of which contribute only about 3% of GDP. Commercial business activities also are inconspicuous and, to a large extent, are dominated by the same large trading companies found throughout the South Pacific. In September 1974, the country's first commercial trading bank, the Bank of Tonga, opened. There are no patent laws in Tonga.

Rural Tongans rely on plantation and subsistence agriculture. Coconuts, vanilla beans, bananas, coffee beans and root crops such as yams, taro and cassava, are the major cash crops. The processing of coconuts into copra and desiccated (dried) coconut was once the only significant industry but deteriorating prices on the world market has brought this once vibrant industry, as everywhere throughout the island nations of the south Pacific, to a complete standstill. In addition, the feudal land ownership system meant that farmers had no incentive to invest in planting long-term tree crops on land they did not own. Pigs and poultry are the major types of livestock. Horses are kept for draft purposes, primarily by farmers working their 'api 'uta (a plot of bushland). More cattle are being raised, and beef imports are declining. The export of squash to Japan once brought relief to a struggling economy but recently local farmers are increasingly wary of this market due to price fluctuations, not to mention the huge financial risks involved.

Tonga's development plans emphasise a growing private sector, upgrading agricultural productivity, revitalising the squash and vanilla bean industries, developing tourism, and improving the island's communications and transportation systems. Substantial progress has been made, but much work remains to be done. A small but growing construction sector is developing in response to the inflow of aid monies and remittances from Tongans abroad. In recognition of such a crucial contribution the present Tongan government has created a new department within the Prime Minister's Office with the sole purpose of catering for the needs of Tongans living abroad. Furthermore, in 2007 the Tongan Parliament amended citizenship laws to allow Tongans to hold dual citizenship.

The tourist industry is relatively undeveloped; however, the government recognises that tourism can play a major role in economic development, and efforts are being made to increase this source of revenue. Cruise ships often stop in Vavau, a place that has a reputation for its whale watching, game fishing, surfing, beaches and is increasingly becoming a major player in the South Pacific tourism market.

Tonga's postage stamps, which feature colourful and often unusual designs (including heart-shaped and banana-shaped stamps) are popular with philatelists around the world.

In 2005 the country became eligible to become a member of the World Trade Organization. After an initial voluntary delay, Tonga became a full member of the WTO on July 27, 2007.

The Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), incorporated in 1996, endeavours to represent the interests of its members, private sector businesses, and to promote economic growth in the Kingdom.

Tonga is home to some 106,000 people but more than double that number live overseas, mainly in the U.S., New Zealand and Australia which traditionally send some of their income home, but since 2008 global economic crisis the remittances are declining and by 2012 the grassroots are really feeling hardship. It's also occur of most of the smaller island economies in the Pacific. The cashcow from tourism are improving, but they remain modest at under 90,000 tourists per year.

Energy

Tonga has begun implementing tailor-made policies to power its remote islands in a sustainable way – without turning to expensive grid-extensions. A number of islands within the Kingdom of Tonga lack a basic electricity supply. A supply entirely coming from imported diesel. Also, in 2009, 19% of Tonga's GDP and 25% of its imports consisted of diesel purchases.

In view of the decreasing reliability of fossil-fuel electricity generation, its increasing costs and negative environmental side-effects, renewable energy solutions have attracted the government’s attention. Together with IRENA, Tonga has charted out a renewable energy based strategy to power the main and outer islands alike. The strategy focuses on Solar Home Systems that turn individual households into small power plants. In addition, it calls for the involvement of local operators, finance institutions and technicians to provide sustainable business models as well as strategies to ensure the effective operation, management and maintenance once the systems are installed.

With the assistance of IRENA, Tonga has developed the 2010–2020 Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM), which aims for a 50% reduction of diesel importation. This will be accomplished through a range of appropriate renewable technologies, including wind and solar, as well as innovative efficiencies.

Demographics

Over 70% of the 101,991 inhabitants of the Kingdom of Tonga live on its main island, Tongatapu. Although an increasing number of Tongans have moved into the only urban and commercial centre, Nukualofa, where European and indigenous cultural and living patterns have blended, village life and kinship ties remain influential throughout the country. Despite emigration, the Tonga grew in population from about 32,000 in the 1930s to more than 90,000 by 1976.

According to the government portal, Tongans, Polynesian by ethnicity with a very small mixture of Melanesian, represent more than 98% of the inhabitants. 1.5% are mixed Tongans and the rest are European (the majority are British), mixed European, and other Pacific Islanders. According to a New Zealand paper in 2001 there were approximately 3,000 or 4,000 Chinese in Tonga, thus comprising 3 or 4% of the total Tongan population. In 2006, Nukualofa riots mainly targeted Chinese-owned businesses, leading to the emigration of several hundred Chinese. so that only about 300 remain.

Primary education between ages 6 and 14 is compulsory and free in state schools. Mission schools provide about 8% of the primary and 90% of the secondary level of education. State schools make up for the rest. Higher education includes teacher training, nursing and medical training, a small private university, a woman's business college, and a number of private agricultural schools. Most higher education is pursued overseas.

Ninety percent of the nation's population are considered overweight, with more than 60% of those obese. 70% of Tongan women aged 15–85 are obese. Tonga and nearby Nauru have the world’s highest overweight and obese populations.

Languages

The Tongan language is the official language of the islands, along with English. Tongan, a Polynesian language, is closely related to Wallisian (Uvean), Niuean, Hawaiian, and Samoan.

Religion

Everyday life is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and especially by the Christian faith; for example, all commerce and entertainment activities cease from midnight Saturday until midnight Sunday, and the constitution declares the Sabbath to be sacred, forever. somewhat more than a third of Tongans adhered to the Methodist tradition [see figures below] with Catholics and Mormon populations equalling another third of the adherents. A minority of worshippers are part of the Free Church of Tonga. The official figures from the latest government census of 2006 show that about 98% of the population are affiliated with a Christian church or sect with the four major church affiliations in the kingdom as follows:

Free Wesleyans/Methodists (38,052 or 37%)

LDS Church (Mormons) (17,109 or 17%)

Roman Catholics (15,992 or 16%)

Free Church of Tonga (11,599 or 11%)

Culture and diaspora

Humans have lived in Tonga for perhaps 3,000 years, since settlement in late Lapita times. Before the arrival of European explorers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the Tongans had frequent contacts with their nearest oceanic neighbours, Fiji and Niue. In the 19th century, with the arrival of Western traders and missionaries, Tongan culture changed especially in religion so that today almost 98% of residents are Christian. The people discarded some old beliefs and habits, and adopted others.

Contemporary Tongans often have strong ties to overseas lands. Many Tongans have emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, or the United States to seek employment and a higher standard of living. U.S. cities with significant Tongan American populations include Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Anchorage, Alaska; Inland Empire, California; San Mateo, California; East Palo Alto, California; San Bruno, California; Oakland, California; San Jose, California; Inglewood, California; Los Angeles, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Kona, Hawaii; Lahaina, Hawaii; Reno, Nevada; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Euless, Texas (in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex). Large Tongan communities also live in Tutuila (American Samoa), in Auckland (New Zealand) and in Melbourne and Sydney (Australia). It is estimated that as many as 100,000 Tongans live overseas. In New Zealand alone there are approximately 50,000 Tongan people. The Tongan diaspora retains close ties to relatives at home, and a significant portion of Tonga's income derives from remittances to family members (often aged) who prefer to remain in Tonga.

Sport

Rugby union is the national sport in Tonga, and the national team ('Ikale Tahi, or Sea Eagles) has performed quite well on the international stage. Tonga has competed in five Rugby World Cups since 1987. The 2007 Rugby World Cup was its most successful to date, with Tonga winning both of its first two matches, against the USA, 25–15, and Samoa, 19–15; and came very close to upsetting the eventual winners of the 2007 tournament, the South African Springboks, losing 30–25 in the end. A loss to England, 36–20 in their last pool game ended their hopes of making the knockout stages, but they were by no means disgraced. In fact, by picking up third place in their pool games behind South Africa and England, Tonga earned automatic qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. At this competition, they beat the 5th ranked national team and eventual losing finalists, France, 19-14.

Tonga's best result prior to 2007 came in 1995, when they beat Ivory Coast 29–11, and 1999 when they beat Italy 28–25 (although with only 14 men they lost heavily to England, 10–101). Tonga perform the Ikale Tahi (war dance) before their matches. Tonga used to compete in the Pacific Tri-Nations against Samoa and Fiji, now replaced by the IRB Pacific 6 Nations involving Japan, the second string All Blacks (Junior All Blacks) and Wallabies (Australia A) although from 2008 the Junior All Blacks would be replaced by the Maori All Blacks. At club level, there are the Datec Cup Provincial Championship and the Pacific Rugby Cup. Rugby union is governed by the Tonga Rugby Football Union, which is also a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance. Tonga contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team. Jonah Lomu, Viliami (William) 'Ofahengaue and George Smith, Wycliff Palu, Doug Howlett, Tatafu Polota-Nau are all of Tongan descent. Rugby is popular in the nation's schools and students from schools such as Tonga College, Tupou College are regularly offered scholarships from New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Rugby league has also gained some success in Tonga. In the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Tonga recorded wins against Ireland and Scotland. In addition to the success of the national team, many players of Tongan descent make it big in the Australian National Rugby League competition. These include Willie Mason, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Kite, Willie Tonga, Anthony Tupou, Antonio Kaufusi, Israel Folau, Taniela Tuiaki, Michael Jennings, Tony Williams, Feleti Mateo, Fetuli Talanoa, to name but a few. Subsequently, some Tongan Rugby League players have established successful careers in the British Super League.

Tongan Boxer Paea Wolfgram won the silver medal in the Super Heavyweight division (>91 kg) at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Thus far, he remains the only athlete to have won an Olympic medal from the island nations of the South Pacific outside Australia and New Zealand.

Tongan women have a reputation as skilful jugglers.

Media

Regional distribution

''Taimi o Tonga'' — Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, United States of America

Domestic distribution

''Kele'a'' — newspaper

''Talaki'' — newspaper

''Kalonikali'' — newspaper

''Tau'ataina'' — newspaper

Tonga Broadcasting Commission (Television Tonga, Television Tonga 2, Radio Tonga 1, Radio Tonga 2 – Kool 90FM, 103FM

See also

Outline of Tonga

2006 Tonga earthquake

2006 Nuku'alofa riots

2007 Tonga earthquake

2009 Samoa earthquake

2009 Tonga earthquake

Commonwealth of Nations

Telecommunications in Tonga

Culture of Tonga

Foreign relations of Tonga

Geography of Tonga

Kava culture

Music of Tonga

Postage stamps and postal history of Tonga

Sioeli Nau - a Methodist Minister

Tonga branch of The Scout Association

Tonga Defence Services

Tongan mythology

Tongan Nobles

Transport in Tonga

Tuʻi Tonga Empire

Tupenu

William Mariner (writer) - accounts of pre-Christian Tonga

Women's rights in Tonga

References

Further reading

''Ancient Tonga and the Lost City of Mu'a: Including Samoa, Fiji and Raratonga'' by David Hatcher Childress

''The Art of Tonga'' by Keith St Cartmail

''Becoming Tongan: An Ethnography of Childhood'' by Helen Morton

''Birds of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa'' by Dick Watling

''A Guide to the Birds of Fiji and Western Polynesia: Including American Samoa, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Wallis and Futuna'' by Dick Watling

''Guide to the Birds of the Kingdom of Tonga'' by Dick Watling

''Lonely Planet Guide: Samoan Islands and Tonga'' by Susannah Farfor and Paul Smitz

''Moon Travel Guide: Samoa-Tonga'' by David Stanley

''Queen Salote of Tonga: The Story of an Era, 1900–65'' by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem

''Toki'' by Brian K. Crawford

''Tonga'' by James Siers

''The Tonga Book'' by Paul. W. Dale

''Tonga: A New Bibliography'' by Martin Daly

''Tradition Versus Democracy in the South Pacific: Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa'' by Stephanie Lawson

''Voyages: From Tongan Villages to American Suburbs'' Cathy A. Small

External links

; Government

Ministry of Information and Communications

Prime Minister's Office

Tonga Legislation

Tonga Visitors Bureau, Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Tonga

Chief of State and Cabinet Members

Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Ministry of Finance, Kingdom of Tonga

Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources, Kingdom of Tonga

National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Kingdom of Tonga

Tonga Coronation of King George Tupou V

; General information

Tonga from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''

The Friendly Islands: 1616 to 1900

Key Development Forecasts for Tonga from International Futures

; News media (online only)

Matangi Tonga national magazine

Category:Archipelagoes of the Pacific Ocean Category:Constitutional monarchies Category:English-speaking countries and territories Category:Former British protectorates Category:Island countries Category:Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations Category:Oceanian countries Category:Polynesia Category:States and territories established in 1970 Category:Volcanic arcs Category:Member states of the United Nations

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Honorific-prefix	Vice Admiral
Name	William Bligh
Honorific-suffix	FRS RN
order	4th Governor of New South Wales
term start	13 August 1806
term end	26 January 1808
predecessor	Philip Gidley King
successor	Lachlan Macquarie
Birth date	September 09, 1754
Birth place	St Tudy, Cornwall, Great Britain
Death date	December 07, 1817
Death place	25 Bond Street, London, England, Great Britain
Resting place	St Mary-at-Lambeth, Lambeth, London, England
Occupation	Vice Admiral
Spouse	Elizabeth (Betsy) Betham
Footnotes	}}

Vice Admiral William Bligh, FRS, RN (9 September 1754 – 7 December 1817) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV ''Bounty'' in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the ''Bounty's'' launch by the mutineers. Fifteen years after the ''Bounty'' mutiny, he was appointed Governor of New South Wales in Australia, with orders to clean up the corrupt rum trade of the New South Wales Corps, resulting in the so-called Rum Rebellion.

Early life

The name Bligh comes from the Cornish language word ''Blyth'' meaning Wolf.

Bligh was born in St Tudy near Bodmin in Cornwall to Francis and Jane (Balsam) Bligh. He was signed for the Royal Navy at age seven, it being common to sign on a "young gentleman" simply to gain experience at sea required for promotion. In 1770, at age 16, he joined HMS ''Hunter'' as an able seaman, the term used because there was no vacancy for a midshipman. He became a midshipman early in the following year. In September 1771, Bligh was transferred to the ''Crescent'' and remained on the ship for three years.

In 1776, Bligh was selected by Captain James Cook for the position of sailing master on the ''Resolution'' and accompanied Cook in July 1776 on Cook's third and fatal voyage to the Pacific. Bligh returned to England at the end of 1780 and was able to give details of Cook's last voyage.

Bligh married Elizabeth Betham, daughter of a Customs Collector (stationed in Douglas, Isle of Man), on 4 February 1781. The wedding took place at nearby Onchan. A few days later, he was appointed to serve on HMS ''Belle Poule'' as its master. Soon after this, in August 1781, he fought in the Battle of Dogger Bank under Admiral Parker. For the next 18 months, he was a lieutenant on various ships. He also fought with Lord Howe at Gibraltar in 1782.

Between 1783 and 1787, Bligh was a captain in the merchant service. In 1787, Bligh was selected as commander of the ''Bounty''. He would eventually rise to the rank of Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy.

Naval career

William Bligh's naval career consisted of a variety of appointments and assignments. He first rose to prominence as Master of HMS ''Resolution'', under the command of Captain Cook. Bligh received praise from Cook during what would be the latter's final voyage. A summary follows:

{|class="wikitable" |- !Date !Rank !Ship (number of guns) |- |1 July 1761 – 21 February 1763||Ship's Boy and Captain's Servant||HMS ''Monmouth'' (64) |- |27 July 1770||Able Seaman||HMS ''Hunter'' (10) |- |5 February 1771||Midshipman||HMS ''Hunter'' |- |22 September 1771||Midshipman||HMS ''Crescent'' (28) |- |2 September 1774||Able Seaman||HMS ''Ranger'' |- |30 September 1775||Master's mate||HMS ''Ranger'' |- |20 March 1776 – October 1780||Master||HM Sloop ''Resolution'' (12) |- |14 February 1781||Master||HMS ''Belle Poule'' |- |5 October 1781||Lieutenant||HMS ''Berwick'' (74) |- |1 January 1782||Lieutenant||HMS ''Princess Amelia'' (80) |- |20 March 1782||Lieutenant||HMS ''Cambridge'' (80) |- |14 January 1783||colspan=2|''Joins Merchant Service'' |- |1785||Commanding Lieutenant||Merchant Vessel ''Lynx'' |- |1786||Lieutenant||Merchant Vessel ''Britannia'' |- |1787||colspan=2 |''Returns to Royal Navy'' |- |16 August 1787||Lieutenant Commander|Commanding Lieutenant||HM Armed Vessel ''Bounty'' |- |14 November 1790||Commander||HM Brig-sloop ''Falcon'' (14) |- |15 December 1790||Captain||HMS ''Medea'' (28) (for rank only) |- |16 April 1791–1793||Captain|| (28) |- |16 April 1795||Captain||HMS ''Calcutta'' (24) |- |7 January 1796||Captain||HMS ''Director'' (64) |- |18 March 1801||Captain||HMS ''Glatton'' (56) |- |12 April 1801||Captain||HMS ''Monarch'' (74) |- |8 May 1801 – 28 May 1802||Captain||HMS ''Irresistible'' (74) |- |March 1802 – May 1804 || colspan=2 | Peace of Amiens |- |2 May 1804||Captain||HMS ''Warrior'' (74) |- |14 May 1805|| colspan=2 |Appointed Governor of New South Wales |- |27 September 1805||Captain||HMS ''Porpoise'' (12), voyage to New South Wales |- |13 August 1806 – 26 January 1808 ||colspan=2|Governor of New South Wales |- |31 July 1808||Commodore||HMS ''Porpoise'' (12), Tasmania |- |3 April 1810 –25 October 1810||Commodore||HMS ''Hindostan'' (50), returning to England. |- |31 July 1811|| colspan=2 | Appointed Rear Admiral of the Blue (backdated to 31 July 1810) |- |4 June 1814|| colspan=2 | Appointed Vice Admiral of the Blue |}

The voyage of the ''Bounty''

The first breadfruit voyage

In 1787, Bligh took command of the ''Bounty.'' In order to win a premium offered by the Royal Society of Arts, he first sailed to Tahiti to obtain breadfruit trees, then set course for the Caribbean, where breadfruit was wanted for experiments to see whether it would be a successful food crop for slaves there. The ''Bounty'' never reached the Caribbean, as mutiny broke out on board shortly after the ship left Tahiti.

The voyage to Tahiti was difficult. After trying unsuccessfully for a month to round Cape Horn, the ''Bounty'' was finally defeated by the notoriously stormy weather and forced to take the longer way around the Cape of Good Hope. That delay caused a further delay in Tahiti, as he had to wait five months for the breadfruit plants to mature sufficiently to be transported. The ''Bounty'' departed Tahiti in April 1789.

The mutiny

Since it was rated only as a cutter, the ''Bounty'' had no officers other than Bligh himself (who was then only a lieutenant), a very small crew, and no Marines to provide protection from hostile natives during stops or enforce security on board ship. To allow longer uninterrupted sleep, Bligh divided his crew into three watches instead of two, placing his protégé Fletcher Christianrated as a Master's Matein charge of one of the watches. The mutiny, which took place on 28 April 1789 during the return voyage, was led by Christian and supported by eighteen of the crew. They had seized firearms during Christian's night watch and surprised and bound Bligh in his cabin.

Despite being in the majority, none of the loyalists put up a significant struggle once they saw Bligh bound, and the ship was taken over without bloodshed. The mutineers provided Bligh and eighteen loyal crewmen with a 23 foot (7m) launch (so heavily loaded that the gunwales were only a few inches above the water). They were given four cutlasses, enough food and water to reach the most accessible ports, a quadrant and a compass, but no charts, sextant or Marine chronometer. The launch could not hold all the loyal crew members, so four were detained on the ''Bounty'' for their useful skills; they were later released at Tahiti.

Tahiti was upwind from Bligh's initial position, and was the obvious destination of the mutineers. Many of the loyalists claimed to have heard the mutineers cry "Huzzah for Otaheite!" as the ''Bounty'' pulled away. Timor was the nearest European outpost, so Bligh and his crew first made for Tofua, to obtain supplies. However, they were attacked by hostile natives and a crewman was killed. Fleeing from Tofua, Bligh did not dare to stop at the next islands (the Fiji islands), as he had no weapons for defence and expected hostile receptions.

Bligh had confidence in his navigational skills, which he had perfected under the instruction of Captain Cook. His first responsibility was to survive and get word of the mutiny as soon as possible to British vessels that could pursue the mutineers. Thus, he undertook the seemingly impossible 3,618 nautical mile (6,701 km) voyage to Timor. In this remarkable act of seamanship, Bligh succeeded in reaching Timor after a 47-day voyage, the only casualty being the crewman killed on Tofua. Several of the men who survived this ordeal with him soon died of sickness, possibly malaria, in the pestilential Dutch East Indies port of Batavia, as they waited for transport to Britain.

Why the mutiny

To this day, the reasons behind the mutiny are a subject of debate. Some believe that Bligh was a cruel tyrant whose abuse of the crew led them to feel that they had no choice but to take over the ship. Others argue that the crew, inexperienced and unused to the rigours of the sea and, after having been exposed to freedom and sexual license on Tahiti, refused to return to the "Jack Tars" life of an ordinary seaman. They were led by a weak Fletcher Christian in order to be free from Bligh's acid tongue. This view holds that the crew took the ship so they could return to comfort and ease on Tahiti.

The ''Bounty's'' log shows that Bligh resorted to punishments relatively sparingly. He scolded when other captains would have whipped, and whipped when other captains would have hanged. He was an educated man, deeply interested in science, convinced that good diet and sanitation were necessary for the welfare of his crew. He took a great interest in his crew's exercise, was very careful about the quality of their food, and insisted upon the ''Bounty'' being kept very clean. He tried (unsuccessfully) to check the spread of venereal disease among them . Prior to the mutiny only two members of the ship's crew had died, one seaman from infection and the ship's doctor from indolence. J. C. Beaglehole has described the major flaw in this otherwise enlightened naval officer: "[Bligh made] dogmatic judgements which he felt himself entitled to make; he saw fools about him too easily ... thin-skinned vanity was his curse through life ... [Bligh] never learnt that you do not make friends of men by insulting them."

Beaglehole's judgment is supported by the small settlers in NSW (see Bligh's tenure as NSW Governor), who named sons after him. Bligh had the moral courage to take on what he saw was wrong, and he strongly supported those he thought were right.

Popular fiction often confuses Bligh with Edward Edwards of HMS ''Pandora'', who was sent on the Royal Navy's expedition to the South Pacific to find the mutineers and bring them to trial. Edwards was every bit the cruel man that Bligh was accused of being; the 14 men that he captured were confined in a cramped 18' x 11' x 5' 8" wooden cell on the ''Pandora'''s quarterdeck. When the ''Pandora'' ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef, 4 of the prisoners and 31 of the crew were killed. The prisoners would have all perished, had not William Moulter, a bosun's mate, unlocked their cage before jumping off the sinking vessel.

Aftermath

In October 1790, Bligh was honourably acquitted at the court-martial inquiring into the loss of the ''Bounty.'' Shortly thereafter, ''A Narrative of the Mutiny on board His Majesty's Ship "Bounty"'' was published. Of the 10 surviving prisoners, eventually brought home in spite of the ''Pandora'''s loss, four were acquitted, due to Bligh's testimony that they were non-mutineers that Bligh was obliged to leave on the ''Bounty'' due to lack of space in the launch. Two others were convicted because, while not participating in the mutiny, they were passive and did not resist. They subsequently received royal pardons. One was convicted but excused on a technicality. The remaining three were convicted and hanged.

;Travel up to the mutiny (red): :1. Tasmania, Adventure Bay (21 August 1788) :2. first arrival at Tahiti (26 October 1788) :2. departure for the Caribbean (4 April 1789) :3. Palmerston :4. Tofua :5. 28 April 1789: mutiny ;Travel of the mutineers (yellow): :6. Tubai (6 July 1789) :6. second arrival at Tahiti :7. Tubai (16 July 1789) :8. third arrival at Tahiti (22 September 1789) :8. departure from Tahiti (23 September 1789) :9. Tongatabu (15 November 1789) :10. 15 January 1790: Pitcairn, burning of the Bounty ;Travel of Bligh's boat (green): :5. Bligh's party set adrift (29 April 1789) :16. Tonga :17. Timor (14 June 1789)

Bligh's letter to his wife, Betsy

The following is a letter to Bligh's wife, written from Coupang, Dutch East Indies, (circa June 1791) in which the first reference to events on the ''Bounty'' is made.

My Dear, Dear Betsy,

I am now, for the most part, in a part of the world I never expected, it is however a place that has afforded me relief and saved my life, and I have the happiness to assure you that I am now in perfect health...

Know then my own Dear Betsy, that I have lost the ''Bounty''...on the 28 April at day light in the morning Christian having the morning watch. He with several others came into my Cabin while I was a Sleep, and seizing me, holding naked Bayonets at my Breast, tied my Hands behind my back, and threatened instant destruction if I uttered a word. I however call'd loudly for assistance, but the conspiracy was so well laid that the Officers Cabbin Doors were guarded by Centinels, so Nelson, Peckover, Samuels or the Master could not come to me. I was now dragged on Deck in my Shirt & closely guarded – I demanded of Christian the case of such a violent act, & severely degraded for his Villainy but he could only answer – "not a word sir or you are Dead." I dared him to the act & endeavoured to rally some one to a sense of their duty but to no effect...

The Secrisy of this Mutiny is beyond all conception so that I can not discover that any who are with me had the least knowledge of it. It is unbeknown to me why I must beguile such force. Even Mr. Tom Ellison took such a liking to Otaheite [Tahiti] that he also turned Pirate, so that I have been run down by my own Dogs...

My misfortune I trust will be properly considered by all the World – It was a circumstance I could not foresee – I had not sufficient Officers & had they granted me Marines most likely the affair would never have happened – I had not a Spirited & brave fellow about me & the Mutineers treated them as such. My conduct has been free of blame, & I showed everyone that, tied as I was, I defied every Villain to hurt me...

I know how shocked you will be at this affair but I request of you My Dear Betsy to think nothing of it all is now past & we will again looked forward to future happyness. Nothing but true consciousness as an Officer that I have done well could support me....Give my blessings to my Dear Harriet, my Dear Mary, my Dear Betsy & to my Dear little stranger & tell them I shall soon be home...To You my Love I give all that an affectionate Husband can give –

Love, Respect & all that is or ever will be in the power of your ever affectionate Friend and Husband Wm Bligh.

The second breadfruit voyage

After his exoneration by the Court Martial inquiry into the loss of the ''Bounty'', Bligh remained in the Royal Navy. From 1791 to 1793, as master and commander of and in company with under the command of Nathaniel Portlock, he undertook again to transport breadfruit from Tahiti to the West Indies. The operation was successful, and breadfruit is a popular food in the West Indies to this day. During this voyage Bligh also collected samples of the ackee fruit of Jamaica, introducing it to the Royal Society in Britain upon his return. The ackee's scientific name ''Blighia sapida'' in binomial nomenclature was given in honour of Bligh.

Subsequent career and the Rum Rebellion

In 1797 Bligh was one of the captains whose crews mutinied over "issues of pay and involuntary service for common seamen" during the Spithead mutiny. Despite receiving some of their demands at Spithead, disputes over navy life continued among the common sailors. Bligh was again one of the captains affected during the mutiny at the Royal Navy anchorage of Nore. "Bligh became more directly involved in the Nore Mutiny", which "failed to achieve its goals of a fairer division of prize money and an end to brutality." It should be noted that these events were not triggered by any specific actions by Bligh as they "were widespread, [and] involved a fair number of English ships". It was at this time that he learned "that his common nickname among men in the fleet was 'that Bounty bastard'."

As captain of , at the Battle of Camperdown on 11 October 1797, Bligh engaged three Dutch vessels: the ''Haarlem'', the ''Alkmaar'' and the ''Vrijheid''. While the Dutch suffered serious casualties, only 7 seamen were wounded in ''Director''.

Bligh went on to serve under Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801, in command of HMS ''Glatton'', a 56-gun ship of the line, which was experimentally fitted exclusively with carronades. After the battle, Bligh was personally praised by Nelson for his contribution to the victory. He sailed ''Glatton'' safely between the banks while three other vessels ran aground. When Nelson pretended not to notice Admiral Parker's signal "43" (stop the battle) and kept the signal "16" hoisted to continue the engagement, Bligh was the only captain in the squadron who could see that the two signals were in conflict. By choosing to fly Nelson's signal, he ensured that all the vessels behind him kept fighting.

Bligh had gained the reputation of being a firm disciplinarian. Accordingly, he was offered the position of Governor of New South Wales by Sir Joseph Banks and appointed in March 1805, at £2,000 per annum, twice the pay of the retiring Governor Philip Gidley King. He arrived in Sydney on 6 August 1806, to become the fourth governor. During his time in Sydney, his confrontational administrative style provoked the wrath of a number of influential settlers and officials. They included the wealthy landowner and businessman John Macarthur and prominent Crown representatives such as the colony's Principal Surgeon, Thomas Jamison, and senior officers of the New South Wales Corps. Jamison and his military associates were defying government regulations by engaging in private trading ventures for profit: Bligh was determined to put a stop to this practice.

The conflict between Bligh and the entrenched colonists culminated in another mutiny, the Rum Rebellion, when, on 26 January 1808, the New South Wales Corps under Major George Johnston marched on Government House in Sydney and arrested him. A rebel government was subsequently installed and Bligh, now deposed, made for Hobart in Tasmania aboard HMS ''Porpoise''. Bligh failed to gain support from the authorities in Hobart to retake control of New South Wales, and remained effectively imprisoned on the ''Porpoise'' from 1808 until January 1810.

Of interest, however, was Bligh's concern for the more recently arrived settlers in the colony, who did not have the wealth and influence of Macarthur and Jamison. Looking at the tombstones in Ebenezer and Richmond cemeteries (areas being settled west of Sydney during Bligh's tenure as Governor), it is instructive to note the number of boys born around 1807 to 1811 who were named "William Bligh XXXXX" (family name).

Bligh was eventually permitted to sail from Hobart. He arrived in Sydney on 17 January 1810 to collect evidence for the coming court martial in England of Major Johnston. He departed to attend the trial on 12 May 1810, arriving on 25 October 1810. The following year, the trial's presiding officers sentenced Johnston to be cashiered, a form of disgraceful dismissal that entailed surrendering his commission in the Royal Marines without compensation. (This was a comparatively mild punishment which enabled Johnston to return, a free man, to New South Wales, where he could continue to enjoy the benefits of his accumulated private wealth.) Bligh was court martialled twice again during his career.

Soon after Johnston's trial had concluded, Bligh received a backdated promotion to Rear Admiral. In 1814 he was promoted again, to Vice Admiral of the Blue. Significantly perhaps, he never again received an important command. He did, however, design the North Bull Wall at the mouth of the River Liffey in Dublin. Its purpose was to clear a sandbar by Venturi action. As a result of its building. North Bull Island was formed by the sand cleared by the river's now more narrowly focused force. Bligh also charted and mapped Dublin Bay.

Death

Bligh died in Bond Street, London on 6 December 1817 and was buried in a family plot at St. Mary's, Lambeth (this church is now the Garden Museum). His tomb, notable for its use of ''Lithodipyra'' (Coade stone), is topped by a breadfruit.

A plaque marks Bligh's house, one block east of the Garden Museum at 100 Lambeth Road, near the Imperial War Museum.

His descendants include the former Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh.

He was also related to Admiral Sir Richard Rodney Bligh and Captain George Miller Bligh.

See also

European and American voyages of scientific exploration

References

Bibliography

Mundle, Rob, ''Bligh: Master Mariner'', Hachette Australia, 2010. ISBN 9780733625060

External links

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1, MUP, 1966, pp. 118–122.">A. G. L. Shaw, 'Bligh, William (1754 –1817)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1, MUP, 1966, pp. 118–122.

, including:

* A Narrative Of The Mutiny, On Board His Majesty's Ship Bounty, 1790

* A Voyage to the South Sea, 1792

Portraits of Bligh in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Royal Naval Museum, The Mutiny on HMS Bounty .

The Extraordinary Life, Times and Travels of Vice-Admiral William Bligh. Multimedia biography with music, sound effects, video, large images and graphics.

William Bligh's official HMS Bounty logbook – State Library of NSW

William Bligh's official Bounty logbook, transcribed from the original held at National Archives, UK

William Bligh's letters to Joseph Banks concerning the first breadfruit expedition

Bligh Notebook in which he kept notes during the voyage in the Bounty's launch

Bligh's Resource Logbook. Bligh's personal logbook of the voyage of the schooner ''Resource'', which carried the launch survivors from Coupang, Timor, to Batavia, Java.

Bligh's Vlydt Journal. A log kept of his return to England from Batavia on the Dutch packet Vlydt.

Bligh's Providence Logbook

Rutter, Owen, Turbulent Journey: A Life of William Bligh, Vice-admiral of the Blue, I. Nicholson and Watson, 1936

Mackaness, George, The Life of Vice-Admiral William Bligh, R.N., F.R.S. By Farrar & Rinehart, 1936

George Tobin – Journal on HMS Providence, 1791–1793

Category:Governors of New South Wales Category:Mutiny on the Bounty Category:Royal Navy admirals Category:British naval personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars Category:People from Cornwall Category:1754 births Category:1817 deaths Category:People in Cornish history Category:Australian penal colony administrators Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:19th-century Australian people Category:People from St Tudy Category:Cornish emigrants to Australia Category:James Cook

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