Fletcher Christian was born near Cockermouth in 1764. He led the mutiny on the Bounty in 1789, during which he seized command of the Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty from Lieutenant William Bligh.

Fletcher Christian lived with the other mutineers on Pitcairn until he was presumably murdered in 1793. His son, who was born on Pitcairn in 1790, bore the unusual name Thursday October Christian.