Born February 13, 1743,
London, England
Died June 19, 1820,
London, England

Sir Joseph Banks initially became interested in exploration through his love of nature. An Oxford graduate born to wealth and power, he became a talented naturalist and had the vision and resources to pursue his many interests. He also promoted the exploration of Africa and Australia, as well as fostered England’s ambitions to find the Northwest Passage. Banks founded the African Association, a society formed to find the source of the Niger River. Knighted in 1795, Banks was sometimes accused of being despotic by fellow scientists, but his herbarium, or collection of dried plant specimens, was considered the world’s most important, and his collection of books on natural history and travel came to be housed in the British Museum.

Banks was born in London on February 13, 1743. His family lived on a large estate in the...