The Networker

 

Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) was an English botanist and natural scientist who devoted his life to promoting science and knowledge. Well educated, financially well situated, and very well connected, he played a huge roll in the center of the scientific world of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was a prodigious letter writer, averaging up to 50 letters a week. He knew and corresponded with everyone, worldwide, who had anything to do with science and discovery.

He remained firmly non-political during his life, though very, very thoroughly English. He was a personal friend of King George III. He served as President of The Royal Society for 41 years.

Banks played a major role in earlier posts here.

• As a young man, he accompanied James Cook on his first voyage of discovery to the Pacific. 
• He was a member of the Board of Longitude.
• He spearheaded the expedition of the Bounty to the South Pacific.

Our cruise is now just 7 months distant. Learning of Banks, and his connections to lands we will visit in the Pacific, was pure serendipity.

The HMS Bounty and Captain Bligh – Fake News?

 

Caroline Alexander‘s gripping history surrounding the Mutiny on the Bounty tells a strangely modern story. In 1789, Bligh and those loyal to him were cast off from the Bounty in the Pacific in a small boat by Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers. Bligh made his way back to civilization with his electrifying tale. The Royal Navy sent a ship to the south Pacific to search for the Bounty, but returned with only 10 mutineers who had left the ship and made their homes in Tahiti. 

The resulting court martial in 1792 is a compelling court room drama, with all the devices one expects of such a tale:

• Hazy memories
• Character assassination
• Favor for those of higher social standing
• Media bias

The 10 mutineers were all found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged. Two were pardoned by King George III. . One of the two went on to a successful naval career. 

In 1808 one remaining mutineer was found, along with families of other mutineers, on Pitcairn Island. He was not charged.