(1743 - 1820)

Banks was born in Westminster, England, at was tutored at home before attending the prestigious Harrow and Eton schools. When he reached 21 he gained his inheritance and spent time between Oxford, London and his family estate in Lincoln.

In 1766 he made an extensive collection of plants in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and in 1768 boarded the Endeavour with a staff of eight and a huge amount of equipment.

Having accrued a huge natural plant collection on the voyage, Banks found himself being consulted on many botanical matters, especially following his election to the position of president of the Royal Society in 1778, a post he held until his death.

In 1779 Banks recommended Botany Bay as a suitable site for the establishment of a potential penal settlement. As a result, he is often referred to as the "Father of Australia". Although he wrote many papers on botanical subjects he never published many of them, instead maintaining correspondence with other naturalists such as Robert Brown, Allan Cunningham and George Caley. Always generous to those wishing to study in his extensive libraries, he had a plant species named in his honour; Banksia.

Sir Joseph Banks died in June 1820.

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