Joseph Banks 39657 223612103 2008-07-04T21:48:52Z DuncanHill 1739907 cat {{For|clothier|JoS. A. Bank Clothiers}} {{Infobox Scientist |name = Joseph Banks |box_width = |image = Joseph_banks.jpg |image_width = 200px |birth_date = [[13 February]] [[1743]] |birth_place = [[Horncastle, Lincolnshire|Horncastle]], [[Lincolnshire]] |death_date = [[19 June]] [[1820]] |death_place = [[London]], [[England]] |nationality = [[United Kingdom]] |field = [[Botany]] |work_institutions = |alma_mater = [[University of Oxford]] |doctoral_advisor = |doctoral_students = |known_for = Endeavour voyage |author_abbrev_bot = ''Banksia'' |influences = [[Israel Lyons]] |influenced = }} '''Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet''', [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[President of the Royal Society|PRS]] ([[13 February]] [[1743]] &ndash; [[19 June]] [[1820]]) was an [[England|English]] [[Natural history|naturalist]], [[Botany|botanist]] and science patron. He took part in [[James Cook|Captain James Cook]]'s [[First voyage of James Cook|first great voyage]] (1768&ndash;1771) and around 80 species of plants bear Banks' name. He is credited with the introduction to the [[Western world]] of [[eucalyptus]], [[acacia]], [[mimosa]], and the [[genus]] named after him, ''[[Banksia]]''. Banks was also the leading founder of the [[African Association]], a British organization dedicated to the exploration of Africa. ==Biography== [[Image:Joesph banks as a boy.jpg|left|thumb|A portrait of Banks painted in 1757, the artist is unknown but the painting has been attributed to [[Lemuel Francis Abbott]] or [[Johann Zoffany]]; the print under his right hand is a botanical illustration.<ref name = "O'Brian">O'Brian, P. 1987. ''Joseph Banks: A Life''. Collins Harvill. ISBN 0-00-217350-6 p 23-24</ref>]] Banks was born in [[London]] to the wealthy William Banks, a prosperous [[Lincolnshire]] country [[squire]] and member of the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], and his wife Sarah, daughter of William Bate. Joseph was educated at [[Harrow School]] from the age of 9, and at [[Eton College]] from 1756; his fellow students included [[Constantine Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave|Constantine John Phipps]]. As a boy, he enjoyed exploring the Lincolnshire countryside and developed a keen interest in nature, history and botany. When Banks was 17 he was inoculated with [[smallpox]], but he became ill and did not return to school. In late 1760 he was enrolled as a gentleman-commoner at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]]. At Oxford he [[Matriculation|matriculated]] at [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]] and his studies were largely focussed on natural history rather than the classical curriculum. Determined to receive botanical instruction, he paid Cambridge botanist [[Israel Lyons]] to deliver a series of lectures at Oxford in 1764.<ref name="ODB">John Gascoigne, Banks, Sir Joseph, baronet (1743–1820), ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, Sept 2004</ref> Banks left Oxford for [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]] in December 1763. He continued to attend until 1764, but he left that year without taking a degree. Banks' father died in 1761, and when Joseph turned 21 he inherited the impressive estate of [[Revesby Abbey]], in Lincolnshire, becoming the local squire and [[magistrate]], sharing his time between Lincolnshire and London. From his mother's home in Chelsea, he kept up his interest in science by attending the [[Chelsea Physic Garden]] of the [[Worshipful Society of Apothecaries]] and the [[British Museum]], where he met [[Daniel Solander]]. He began to make friends among the scientific men of his day and to correspond with [[Carl Linnaeus]], whom he came to know through Solander. As Banks' influence increased, he became an advisor to [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] and urged the Monarch to support voyages of discovery to new lands, hoping to indulge his own interest in botany. ===Newfoundland and Labrador=== In 1766 he was elected to the [[Royal Society]], and in the same year accompanied Phipps to [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] with a view of studying their natural history. He established his name by publishing the first [[Linnaean taxonomy|Linnean]] descriptions of the plants and animals of Newfoundland and Labrador.<ref name=ADB>{{cite web |url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010051b.htm |title=Banks, Sir Joseph (1743 - 1820) |accessdate=2007-11-06 |author=L. A. Gilbert |work=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]], Volume 1 |publisher=[[Melbourne University Press|MUP]] |year=1966 |pages=pp 52-55}}</ref> ===''Endeavour'' voyage=== [[Image:BotanicMacaroni.jpg|thumb|left|Satire on Banks titled "The Botanic Macaroni". A [[Macaroni (fashion)|macaroni]] was a pejorative term used for a fashionable [[dandy]] in the 18th Century]] Banks was promptly appointed to a joint [[Royal Navy]]/Royal Society scientific expedition to the south [[Pacific Ocean]] on [[HM Bark Endeavour|HM Bark ''Endeavour'']], 1768&mdash;1771. This was the first of James Cook's voyages of discovery into that region. This voyage went to [[Brazil]] where Banks made the first scientific description of a now common garden plant, [[bougainvillea]] (named after Cook's French counterpart, [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville]]) and other parts of [[South America]]. The voyage progressed to [[Tahiti]] (where the [[transit of Venus]] was observed, the overt purpose of the mission), [[New Zealand]], and the east coast of [[Australia]] where Cook mapped the coastline and made landfall at [[Botany Bay]] (present-day suburban [[Sydney]]) and at [[Endeavour River]] (near modern [[Cooktown, Queensland|Cooktown]]) in [[Queensland]], where they spent almost seven weeks ashore while their [[ship]] was repaired after foundering on the [[Great Barrier Reef]]<ref name="ADB"/>. Before he left England, Banks had become a [[Freemasonry|Freemason]] and is thus held to be the first Freemason known to have been in New Zealand and Australia. While in Australia, Banks, the [[Sweden|Swedish]] botanist Daniel Solander and the [[Finland|Finnish]] botanist Dr. [[Herman Spöring Jr.]] made the first major collection of Australian flora, describing many species new to science. Almost 800 specimens were illustrated by the artist [[Sydney Parkinson]] and appear in [[Banks' Florilegium]], finally published in thirty-five volumes between 1980 and 1990. Banks arrived back in England on [[12 July]] [[1771]] and immediately became famous. He intended to go with Cook on his second voyage which began on [[13 May]] [[1772]], but difficulties arose about the accommodation for Banks and his assistants, and he decided not to go. In July of the same year he visited the [[Isle of Wight]], the western islands of [[Scotland]] and [[Iceland]]<ref name="ADB"/> with Daniel Solander aboard the ''[[Sir Lawrence (British naval vessel)|Sir Lawrence]]'' and returned with many botanical specimens. When he settled in London he began work on the Banks' Florilegium. He kept in touch with most of the scientists of his time, and added a fresh interest when elected to the Dilettante Society in 1774. He was afterwards secretary of this society from 1778 to 1797. On [[30 November]] [[1778]] he was elected [[President of the Royal Society]]<ref name="ADB"/>, a position he was to hold with great distinction for over 41 years. He married in March 1779, Dorothea, daughter of W. W. Hugesson, and settled in a large house at 32 [[Soho Square]], now occupied by [[20th Century Fox]], which continued to be his London residence for the remainder of his life. His sister [[Sarah Sophia Banks]] lived with Banks and his wife. There he welcomed the scientists, students and authors of his period, and many distinguished foreign visitors. He had as librarian and curator of his collections, Solander, [[Jonas Carlsson Dryander]], and [[Robert Brown (botanist)|Robert Brown]] in succession. [[Image:The great south sea caterpillar, transform'd into a Bath butterfly.jpg|thumb|In ''The great South Sea Caterpillar, transform'd into a Bath Butterfly'' (1795), [[James Gillray]] caricatured Banks's investiture with the [[Order of the Bath]] as a result of his expedition.]] Banks was made a [[baronet]] in 1781<ref name="ADB"/>, three years after being elected president of the Royal Society. The latter position he would hold for a record forty-two years, and from it he could direct the course of British science for the first part of the 19th century. During much of this time, Banks was an informal adviser to King George III on the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Royal Botanic Gardens]], [[Kew]], a position that was formalized in 1797. Banks dispatched explorers and botanists to many parts of the world; through these efforts Kew Gardens became arguably the pre-eminent [[botanical garden]]s in the world, with many species being introduced to [[Europe]] through them. He was directly responsible for several famous voyages, including that of [[George Vancouver]] to the northeastern Pacific ([[Pacific Northwest]]), and [[William Bligh]]'s voyages to transplant [[breadfruit]] from the [[Oceania|South Pacific]] to the [[Caribbean Sea]] islands; the latter brought about the famous [[Mutiny on the Bounty]]. The redoubtable Bligh was also appointed governor of [[New South Wales]] on Banks' recommendation, which in turn led to the [[Rum Rebellion]] of 1808. Banks was also major financial supporter of [[William Smith (geologist)|William Smith]] in his decade-long efforts to create a geological map of England, the first geological map of an entire country in history. Banks also chose [[Allan Cunningham (botanist)|Allan Cunningham]] for voyages to Brazil and the north and north-west coasts of Australia to collect specimens. It was the time in Australia, however, which was to lead to Banks' interest in the British [[colonisation]] of that continent. He was to be the greatest proponent of settlement in New South Wales, as is hinted by its early colloquial name: Botany Bay. The identification may have been even closer, as the name "Banksia" was proposed for the region by Linnaeus. In the end, a genus of [[Proteaceae]] was named in his honour as Banksia<ref name="ADB"/>. In 1779 Banks, giving evidence before a committee of the House of Commons, had stated that in his opinion the place most eligible for the reception of [[Convictism in Australia|convicts]] "was Botany Bay, on the coast of [[New Holland (Australia)|New Holland]]". His interest did not stop there, for when the settlement was made, and for 20 years afterwards, his fostering care and influence was always being exercised. He was in fact the general adviser to the government on all Australian matters. He arranged that a large number of useful trees and plants should be sent out in the supply ship ''[[HMS Guardian (1784)|Guardian]]'' which, however, was unfortunately wrecked, and every vessel that came from New South Wales brought plants or animals or geological and other specimens to Banks. He was continually called on for help in developing the agriculture and trade of the colony, and his influence was used in connection with the sending out of early free settlers one of whom, a young gardener [[George Suttor]], afterwards wrote a memoir of Banks. The three early governors, [[Arthur Phillip]], [[John Hunter (New South Wales)|John Hunter]], and [[Philip Gidley King]], were continually in correspondence with him. He was interested in the explorations of [[Matthew Flinders]], [[George Bass]], and Lieutenant [[James Grant (navigator)|James Grant]], and among his paid helpers were [[George Caley]], Robert Brown, and Allan Cunningham. ===Late life=== Banks's health began to fail early in the century and he suffered much from [[gout]]<ref name="ADB"/> every winter. After 1805 he practically lost the use of his legs, and had to be wheeled to his meetings in a chair. His mind remained as vigorous as ever. He had been a member of the [[Society of Antiquaries of London|Society of Antiquaries]] nearly all his life, and he developed very much his interest in archaeology in his later years. He was made an honorary founding member of the [[Wernerian Natural History Society]] of [[Edinburgh]] in 1808. Kew Gardens had always been a special interest, and his collectors had contributed much to its development. Generally he had done invaluable work for both [[horticulture]] and [[agriculture]]. In May 1820 he forwarded his resignation as president of the Royal Society but withdrew it at the request of the council. On [[19 June]] [[1820]] he died. Lady Banks survived him but there were no children<ref name="ADB"/>. == Legacy == Banks' impact on history was as a systematizer ''par excellence'', very much in step with his times. He was also a major supporter of the internationalist nature of science, being actively involved both in keeping open the lines of communication with continental scientists during the [[Napoleonic Wars]], and in introducing the British people to the wonders of the wider world. As befits someone with such a role in opening the South Pacific to Europe, his name dots the map of the region: [[Banks Peninsula]] on [[South Island]], New Zealand, the [[Banks Islands]] in modern-day [[Vanuatu]] and [[Banks Island]] in the [[Northwest Territories]], [[Canada]]. The [[Canberra]] suburb of [[Banks, Australian Capital Territory|Banks]] and the Sydney suburb of [[Bankstown, New South Wales|Bankstown]] are named after him. Banks also appeared on the paper five dollar note in the [[Banknotes of the Australian dollar|Australian currency]] before it was replaced by the new plastic currency. In [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire |Lincoln]] [[The Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory]] can be found at [[The Lawn, Lincoln]] adjacent to [[Lincoln Castle]], and is a popular tourist attraction with a tropical [[Greenhouse|hot house]] themed with plants reminiscent of the voyages of its namesake, Sir Joseph Banks, including many samples of vegetation from across the world, including Australia. There is also a window in [[Lincoln Cathedral]] named after Banks. {{botanist|Banks|Banks, Joseph}} ==See Also== *[[African Association]], a British society dedicated to the exploration of West Africa which was led by Sir Joseph Banks ==Bibliography== *[[Patrick O'Brian|O'Brian, Patrick]]. 1987. ''Joseph Banks: A Life''. The Harvill Press, London. Paperback reprint, 1989. ISBN 1-86046-406-8 **O'Brian based his characters Joseph Blaine and Stephen Maturin both to some extent on Banks (in the [[Aubrey–Maturin series]] of novels). *''Sex, Botany & Empire: The Story Of Carl Linnaeus And Joseph Banks''. Columbia University Press. Patricia Fara. ISBN 0-231-13426-6. A short book about the exploits of Joseph Banks and his relationship with Carl Linneaus *Gascoigne, John, ''Joseph Banks and the English Enlightenment: Useful Knowledge and Polite Culture'', Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1994. ISBN 0-521-45077-2. Hardback *Gascoigne, John. 1998. ''Science in the Service of Empire: Joseph Banks, The British State and the Uses of Science in the Age of Revolution.'' Cambridge University Press. (cloth) *Lysaght, Dr. Averil M., ''Joseph Banks in Newfoundland and Labrador, 1766''. Consolidation of Banks diaries and other writings while in Newfoundland. *Kryza, Frank T., "The Race to Timbuktu: In Search of Africa's City of Gold" Banks hand in the exploration of Africa. *Davies, Martin, 2005.''The Conjurer's Bird'' A novel based on a mix of historical fact and conjecture of Banks' early life. ==References== <references/> :A. Duncan, ''A Short Account of the Life of the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks'' (Edinb, 1821); G. Mackaness, ''Sir Joseph Banks. His Relations with Australia'' (Syd, 1936); H. C. Cameron, ''Sir Joseph Banks, K.B., P.R.S.; the Autocrat of the Philosophers'' (Lond, 1952); W. R. Dawson (ed), ''The Banks Letters'' (Lond, 1958); J. C. Beaglehole (ed), ''[[s:The Endeavour Journal of Sir Joseph Banks|The Endeavour Journal of Joseph Banks, 1768-1771]]'', vols 1-2 (Syd, 1962); H. B. Carter, ''His Majesty's Spanish Flock: Sir Joseph Banks and the Merinos of George III of England'' (Syd, 1964); L. A. Gilbert, Botanical Investigation of Eastern Seaboard Australia, 1788-1810 (B.A. thesis, University of New England, 1962); Joseph Banks papers (State Library of New South Wales, and National Library of Australia). == External links == {{commons}} {{wikisource-author}} {{Wikisource1911Enc|Banks, Sir Joseph, Bart.}} *{{Gutenberg Australia author anchor|name=Joseph Banks|link=banks}} *[http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=36373 Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''] * [http://southseas.nla.gov.au/journals/banks/contents.html The ''Endeavour'' Journal of Joseph Banks, 1768-1771] transcript by the State Library of New South Wales * [http://southseas.nla.gov.au/journals/banks_remarks/contents.html Banks' Descriptions in the Journal of Places and Peoples encountered during the ''Endeavour'' Voyage] * [http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms9 Guide to the papers of Sir Joseph Banks] held and digitised by the National Library of Australia * [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/HistSciTech.BanksJ ''Correspondence concerning Iceland : written to Sir Joseph Banks''], 1772-1818, from the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections * *Lovell, Jennifer. "[http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2005/apr05/article4.html A Bath Butterfly Botany and Eighteenth Century Sexual Politics]." ''National Library of Australia News'' 15.7 (April 2005). * Chambers, Neil. "[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1860942040 The Letters of Sir Joseph Banks: A Selection, 1768-1820]." Publication of a selection of Banks's personal correspondence. * Sir Joseph Banks Society. "[http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/ New Society based in Lincolnshire, England]" {{Royal Society presidents 1700s}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Joseph}} [[Category:1743 births]] [[Category:1820 deaths]] [[Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford]] [[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of Great Britain|Banks, Joseph, 1st Baronet]] [[Category:Botanical collectors active in Australia]] [[Category:Botanists active in New Zealand]] [[Category:Botanists active in North America]] [[Category:Botanists active in South America]] [[Category:Botanists active in the Pacific]] [[Category:English botanists]] [[Category:Explorers of Australia]] [[Category:Explorers of the Pacific]] [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]] [[Category:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London]] [[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] [[Category:Old Etonians]] [[Category:Old Harrovians]] [[Category:Presidents of the Royal Society]] [[de:Joseph Banks]] [[et:Joseph Banks]] [[es:Joseph Banks]] [[fr:Joseph Banks]] [[gl:Joseph Banks]] [[it:Joseph Banks]] [[nl:Joseph Banks]] [[ja:ジョゼフ・バンクス]] [[pl:Joseph Banks]] [[pt:Joseph Banks]] [[ru:Банкс, Джозеф]] [[fi:Joseph Banks]] [[sv:Joseph Banks]]