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.
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