The Multifarious Mr. Banks: From Botany Bay to Kew, The Natural Historian Who Shaped the World
A fascinating life of Sir Joseph Banks which restores him to his proper place in history as a leading scientific figure of the English Enlightenment

“An extensive, admiring account of his subject’s circuitous route to fame and power.”—Wall Street Journal

“Readers interested in the British Enlightenment, the history of science, or the lives of great figures who played leading roles in England’s emergence as a global presence will enjoy this highly informative book.”—Choice

As official botanist on James Cook's first circumnavigation, the longest-serving president of the Royal Society, advisor to King George III, the "father of Australia," and the man who established Kew as the world's leading botanical garden, Sir Joseph Banks was integral to the English Enlightenment. Yet he has not received the recognition that his multifarious achievements deserve.

In this engaging account, Toby Musgrave reveals the true extent of Banks’s contributions to science and Britain. From an early age Banks pursued his passion for natural history through study and extensive travel, most famously on the HMS Endeavour. He went on to become a pivotal figure in the advancement of British scientific, economic, and colonial interests. With his enquiring, enterprising mind and extensive network of correspondents, Banks’s reputation and influence were global. Drawing widely on Banks's writings, Musgrave sheds light on Banks’s profound impact on British science and empire in an age of rapid advancement.
1133840033
The Multifarious Mr. Banks: From Botany Bay to Kew, The Natural Historian Who Shaped the World
A fascinating life of Sir Joseph Banks which restores him to his proper place in history as a leading scientific figure of the English Enlightenment

“An extensive, admiring account of his subject’s circuitous route to fame and power.”—Wall Street Journal

“Readers interested in the British Enlightenment, the history of science, or the lives of great figures who played leading roles in England’s emergence as a global presence will enjoy this highly informative book.”—Choice

As official botanist on James Cook's first circumnavigation, the longest-serving president of the Royal Society, advisor to King George III, the "father of Australia," and the man who established Kew as the world's leading botanical garden, Sir Joseph Banks was integral to the English Enlightenment. Yet he has not received the recognition that his multifarious achievements deserve.

In this engaging account, Toby Musgrave reveals the true extent of Banks’s contributions to science and Britain. From an early age Banks pursued his passion for natural history through study and extensive travel, most famously on the HMS Endeavour. He went on to become a pivotal figure in the advancement of British scientific, economic, and colonial interests. With his enquiring, enterprising mind and extensive network of correspondents, Banks’s reputation and influence were global. Drawing widely on Banks's writings, Musgrave sheds light on Banks’s profound impact on British science and empire in an age of rapid advancement.
18.0 In Stock
The Multifarious Mr. Banks: From Botany Bay to Kew, The Natural Historian Who Shaped the World

The Multifarious Mr. Banks: From Botany Bay to Kew, The Natural Historian Who Shaped the World

by Toby Musgrave
The Multifarious Mr. Banks: From Botany Bay to Kew, The Natural Historian Who Shaped the World

The Multifarious Mr. Banks: From Botany Bay to Kew, The Natural Historian Who Shaped the World

by Toby Musgrave

Paperback

$18.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

A fascinating life of Sir Joseph Banks which restores him to his proper place in history as a leading scientific figure of the English Enlightenment

“An extensive, admiring account of his subject’s circuitous route to fame and power.”—Wall Street Journal

“Readers interested in the British Enlightenment, the history of science, or the lives of great figures who played leading roles in England’s emergence as a global presence will enjoy this highly informative book.”—Choice

As official botanist on James Cook's first circumnavigation, the longest-serving president of the Royal Society, advisor to King George III, the "father of Australia," and the man who established Kew as the world's leading botanical garden, Sir Joseph Banks was integral to the English Enlightenment. Yet he has not received the recognition that his multifarious achievements deserve.

In this engaging account, Toby Musgrave reveals the true extent of Banks’s contributions to science and Britain. From an early age Banks pursued his passion for natural history through study and extensive travel, most famously on the HMS Endeavour. He went on to become a pivotal figure in the advancement of British scientific, economic, and colonial interests. With his enquiring, enterprising mind and extensive network of correspondents, Banks’s reputation and influence were global. Drawing widely on Banks's writings, Musgrave sheds light on Banks’s profound impact on British science and empire in an age of rapid advancement.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780300259209
Publisher: Yale University Press
Publication date: 05/25/2021
Pages: 386
Product dimensions: 5.00(w) x 7.75(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Toby Musgrave is a plants and gardens historian, independent scholar, and consultant. He is the author or coauthor of eighteen books, including The Plant Hunters, An Empire of Plants, The Head Gardeners, Paradise Gardens, Heritage Fruits and Vegetables and The Garden.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix

Acknowledgements xii

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 The Banks Family and the Young Joseph 1

Chapter 2 Newfoundland and Labrador 24

Chapter 3 HMS Endeavour 36

I Planning 36

II To Tahiti 56

III Tahiti at Last 74

IV New Zealand 97

V Botany Bay and Endeavour River 112

VI Batavia, Home and Outcomes 125

Chapter 4 The Hero and the Egotist 139

Chapter 5 To Iceland: The Independent Explorer 162

Chapter 6 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 176

I The Enlightened Botanist 176

II A New Acquisitions Paradigm 186

III Botany, Economics and Empire 212

Chapter 7 The Father of Australia 224

I Establishing the Penal Settlement 224

Il Securing the Future … and Sheep 246

Chapter 8 The Scientist-Enabler 260

I The President of the Royal Society 260

II The Multifarious Savant 279

III The Dedicated Activists 294

Chapter 9 The Last Two Decades 317

A Note on Banks's Journals & Correspondence 333

A Note on Banks's Date of Birth 336

Endnotes 337

List of Abbreviations 350

Bibliography 351

Index 358

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews