Joseph Banks

Nationality:

Biography: A renowned naturalist and botanist, Banks first made a name for himself on a 1766 expedition to the territories of Newfoundland and Labrador, where he wrote the first descriptions of those areas' plant and animal life in Linnean taxonomy form.

Banks is best known for his role in Captain James Cook's first voyage between 1768 and 1771. During this voyage Banks helped accrue the first major collection of Australian fauna, as well as visiting other lands including New Zealand, then part of the 'Terra Australis Incognita' or unknown southern land.

After the voyage Banks returned to England where he advised George III on the creation of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Born: February 13, 1743
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: June 19, 1820 (aged 77)

Articles and Photos

How Australia Was Born
Captain Arthur Phillip commanded a fleet of British ships carrying convicts to New South Wales on this day, effectively founding the British colony of Australia.
May 13, 1787

Married Life

1779-03-23 Botanist Joseph Banks (36) weds Dorothea Hugessen

Historical Events

1769-04-13 British ship Endeavour captained by James Cook, arrives in Matavia Bay, Tahiti, with botanist Joseph Banks on board
1770-04-28 British Captain James Cook, aboard HMS Endeavour, first lands in Australia at Botany Bay
1771-07-12 HMS Endeavour captained by James Cook, with Joseph Banks aboard, returns from its first voyage to the Pacific after two years
1800-03-20 Alessandro Volta reports his discovery of the electric battery in a letter to Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society of London