History and Heritage

History

Sir Joseph Banks (1743 - 1820)

Banks had accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyage around the world on HMS Endeavour. This voyage included the naming of Botany Bay in Australia, where they landed in 1770. Subsequently a greenhouse was built at Kew called Botany Bay House (1788 – 1856) and it was the new home of many plants, especially those from New Holland. He was the first "director" of the Royal Botanic Gardens in 1772.

It was Banks' enthusiasm and entrepreneurial skills that encouraged other botanical collectors to discover new species and bring them to Kew. His vision helped to greatly increase the number of recorded plant species that are now known. One of the many important species that Banks brought back from his travels was the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). Linneas the younger named the Australian genus Banksia after him as an acknowledgement of his significant contribution to the world of plant collecting.

In 1990 the Sir Joseph Banks Building was opened housing our Economic Botany Collections.

Several portraits of Sir Joseph Banks can be found in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery.Further information about Banks and his contribution to the world of science can be found in Sir Joseph Banks: A Global Perspective, published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.