Born in London, the son of Lincolnshire landed gentry, Joseph Banks had no inclination to follow the political paths of his father, grandfather and greatgrandfather, who had all been Members of Parliament. Nor did he show enthusiasm for the classics during his early education at Harrow and Eton.

Instead, he developed a passion for the natural world, and studied botany at Oxford, engaging a Natural History lecturer at his own expense! In 1761, while he was still at Oxford, his father died, leaving a large estate and considerable wealth, which Joseph Banks inherited when he turned 21.

In 1766 Banks travelled as a naturalist/passenger on HMS Niger to Newfoundland and Labrador, and returned with a large collection of biological specimens and information about the indigenous people.

He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society the same year. A year later the Royal Society arranged with the Admiralty for him to join Cook's 1769 voyage to the South Pacific, again at his own expense. Banks took a staff of eight: Solander (botanist), Parkinson and Buchan (artists), Spöring (clerk/secretary) and four collectors/servants.

The Endeavour sailed to Tahiti where Banks enjoyed three idyllic months with new plants and attractive women in abundance.

After the observation of the transit of Venus, Cook headed south and spent six months in New Zealand waters, circumnavigating the whole country. Banks, in his Journal, left an invaluable description of this exploration, the natural features of the coast and the appearance and customs of the Maori people. And, of course, every opportunity was taken to go ashore with Solander and collect plant specimens, which then had to be drawn, described, classified and prepared for the return voyage. Most of the plants made it back safely - sadly, five of his team did not.

He was appointed special adviser and director of the Royal Gardens at Kew in 1773, and in 1778 was elected President of the Royal Society, holding that office for the remaining 42 years of his life. In 1781 he was awarded a knighthood.

One of his greatest contributions to science was the promotion of scientific research and the encouragement of promising young botanists. He made his extensive library and collections freely available for the use of others, and made provision in his will for the artist Francis (Franz) Bauer, to enable him to continue drawing new plants at Kew.

In New Zealand, a land feature (Banks Peninsula) and several plant species carry his name, honouring Sir Joseph Banks and the first botanical explorations in this country.