Joseph Banks Botanist 1743 - 1820

His first expedition was to Newfoundland and Labrador in April 1766 with a friend Lieutenant Phipps. They returned in January in 1767 with some 340 specimens of plants. Whilst on this voyage he was given the honour of being elected the youngest ever Fellow of the Royal Society.

On his next venture Joseph Banks joined up with Lieutenant James Cook, and took on an expedition to the South Pacific. Their mission was to record the transit of Venus across the sun and although Astronomy was of little interest to Banks he considered it important to improve navigation. On the second part of the expedition Banks was able to collect and record the plant and animal life. Banks had been joined by Daniel Solander, a student eager to explore the South Pacific, and their mutual interest in natural science drew them together to form one of the greatest Botany teams.

The ship Endeavour sailed from Plymouth on 26th August. Despite calm seas, Banks was overcome by seasickness for several days, but recovered and was able to join Solander observing and recording wildlife and specimens of seaweed. On the 12th September the arrived at Funchal, Madeira. While there Banks and Solander collected over 700 speimens and at midnight on the 18th set sail for Brazil a good six weeks away.

When the ship reached Rio de Janeiro the Viceroy Don Antonio de Moura was suspicious and refused to believe the expedition was for scientific reasons. In early December the Endeavour continued south and in January 1769 headed for Tierra del Fuago and prepared to round the Horn. While waiting for favourable weather Banks and Solander went ashore to investigate while the crew restocked with wood and water.

The sub-Antarctic is unpredictable and the weather closed in bringing snow, unfortunately two servants Richmond and Dorlton both died from Hypothermia. Joseph Banks continued around the Pacific with Captain Cook and eventually brought all the specimens back to England for the Botanists and Universities to study.

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