Description

Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, FRS (1743-1820) was an English naturalist, botanist, and patron of the natural sciences. He made his name on the 1766 natural history expedition to Newfoundland and Labrador before taking part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage in the Endeavour (1768-71), visiting Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. He was president of the Royal Society for over 41 years and advised George III on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which he made the world's leading botanical gardens by sending botanists around the world to collect plants. Banks advocated British settlement in New South Wales and colonisation of Australia, and also the establishment of Botany Bay as a place for the reception of convicts. Around 80 plants bear his name, and he was also the leading founder of the African Association and a member of the Society of Dilettanti which helped to establish the Royal Academy. The manuscript of Banks's Endeavour Journal which covers the period 25 August 1768 to 12 July 1771 is held at the State Library of NSW.