Joseph Banks was born in Argyll Street, Soho, London on February 24, 1743. His parents were William Banks, a rich Lincolnshire country squire and member of the House of Commons, and his wife Sarah, daughter of William Bate.
His father died in 1761, and when Banks reached the age of 21, he inherited the large estate of Revesby Abbey, in Lincolnshire, becoming the local squire and magistrate, and dividing his time between Lincolnshire and London.
Because of his wealth, Banks was able to indulge his interest in science; he was a passionate and skillful botanist and this took him on several major expeditions at his own expense.
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| Sir Joseph Banks, as painted by Joshua Reynolds in 1773 |
In 1768 Banks learned that the British explorer James Cook planned to sail to the south Pacific in the Endeavour to observe the transit of Venus and to seek evidence of the postulated Terra Australis Incognita or "unknown southern land". He joined the expedition, which lasted three years, with his staff of eight, and returned with a large collection of new specimens to find himself a celebrity.
The voyage was the first to be organized and equipped for biological work, even though the Government's secret plan was political - to secure a territorial advantage over the French.
On board the Endeavour there were 17 sheep, 4 South sea Hogs, an English boar, its sow and a litter of piglets.
Banks' collection and classification of biological specimens as a member of the expedition helped establish botany as an academic discipline.
Banks was the first European to report a description of a kangaroo.
He brought back 1300 new plant species and is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him, Banksia.
The voyage was the first to be organized and equipped for biological work, even though the Government's secret plan was political - to secure a territorial advantage over the French.
On board the Endeavour there were 17 sheep, 4 South sea Hogs, an English boar, its sow and a litter of piglets.
Banks' collection and classification of biological specimens as a member of the expedition helped establish botany as an academic discipline.
Banks was the first European to report a description of a kangaroo.
He brought back 1300 new plant species and is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him, Banksia.
Banks did much to establish the Botanic Garden at Kew, which he planned as a major collecting center and source of advice on all aspects of plants.
Banks was invested as a Knight of the Order of the Bath (KB) on July 1, 1795 .
Joseph Banks died on June 19, 1820 in Spring Grove House, Isleworth, London, and was buried at St Leonard's Church, Heston.
Source Europress Family Encyclopedia 1999.
Source Europress Family Encyclopedia 1999.
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