William Bligh had remained in the Royal Navy after his exoneration by the court-martial inquiry into the loss of Bounty.

From 1791 to 1793, as master and commander of HMS Providence and in company with HMS Assistant under the command of Nathaniel Portlock, he had undertaken again to transport breadfruit from Tahiti to the West Indies.

He had also transported plants provided by Hugh Ronalds, a nurseryman in Brentford.

The operation has been generally successful, and breadfruit is today a popular food in Puerto Rico; however, its immediate objective, which is to provide a cheap and nutritious food for West Indian slaves, has not been not accomplished, as most slaves refuse to eat the new food.

During this voyage Bligh also collects 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 is given in honor of Bligh.

Much of the court martial testimony had been critical of Bligh's conduct—by the time of his return to England in August 1793, professional and public opinion has turned against him.

He is snubbed at the Admiralty when he goes to present his report, and will be left on half pay for nineteen months before receiving his next appointment.