Bethel - With the "Bounty" to a doctorate

Who hasn't heard the story of the "Mutiny on the Bounty" with the supposedly sadistic Captain Bligh as the central character? Simon Füchtenschnieder has also been captivated by the adventurous events on the three-master, which are based on true events, since his childhood - so much so that the 43-year-old "thoroughbred Bethel native" made the Bounty expedition the focus of his doctoral thesis.

Simon Füchtenschnieder sits at his desk, where he has spent the past seven years researching and writing his dissertation. Numerous books are piled up on the table. "I received my doctoral certificate in February and can now call myself a 'doctor'," he says, pulling out the "good piece". His history thesis is entitled "Organisation and planning of research and supply voyages of the British Navy in the 18th century using the example of the voyages of H.M.A.V. Bounty and H.M.S. Providence to the South Seas and the Caribbean".

Simon Füchtenschnieder summarises the content briefly and succinctly: "I looked into the question of why Captain William Bligh's first voyage ended in the well-known disaster and why his second voyage, which he undertook with the Providence, was successful," says the recently graduated historian. The aim of both voyages was to bring cuttings of the breadfruit tree from Tahiti to the Antilles.

He is proud to have completed his doctorate, says Dr Simon Füchtenschnieder. "It's also, but not only, to do with my disability," says the Bielefeld native. Simon Füchtenschnieder has been paralysed on one side since birth. He can hardly use his left arm and hand at all. "I do almost everything with my right hand, including typing. It's my competitive athlete," he remarks with a smile. The impairment is also the reason why it took him so long to complete his dissertation.

Simon Füchtenschnieder decided to do a doctorate after he had to drop out of his teacher training in English and history at a comprehensive school. "I couldn't cope with the workload. And I simply wasn't able to stand in front of the class with my disability - which was visible to everyone - and lead lessons with confidence and complete respect," he explains.

Simon Füchtenschnieder needed a plan B. His former history teacher had the idea for his doctorate. His English degree paid off for the subsequent research. Simon Füchtenschnieder, who went to school at Bethel and whose parents both worked at Bethel, spent several months in London and Sydney. "There I looked through the original Bligh logbooks and many letters from crew members," reports the volunteer from Antenne Bethel. And during this research, he came to an important realisation: "Captain Bligh was not the sadist he is portrayed as in many books and films."

 

Text and picture: Gunnar Kreutner

 

 

This story simply told

Simon Füchtenschnieder has completed his doctoral thesis. It is about Captain Bligh, who travelled the South Seas and the Caribbean on his ship in the 18th century. Simon Füchtenschnieder has been paralysed on one side since birth. He can barely use his left arm and hand. He is proud to have completed his doctoral thesis.

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