Joseph Banks, English Naturalist

Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), English naturalist and botanist. Banks made his name on the 1766 natural history expedition to Newfoundland and Labrador. He took part in Cook's first great voyage (1768-71), visiting Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. He held the position of President of the Royal Society for over 41 years. He advised King George III on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and by sending botanists around the world to collect plants, he made Kew the world's leading botanical gardens. He is credited with introducing the eucalyptus, acacia, and the genus named after him, Banksia, to the Western world. Approximately 80 species of plants bear his name. Line engraving by N. Schiavonetti, 1812, after T. Phillips

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1743 Botanist Naturalist

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