Bounty was originally a collier, Bethia, built in 1784 at Blaydes Yard in Hull, Yorkshire in England. The Royal Navy purchased her for £1,950 on 23 May 1787 (equivalent to £222,000 in 2019), refit, and renamed her Bounty. The ship was relatively small at 215 tons, but had three masts and was full-rigged.
