Abstract
THE commemoration of the centenary of Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., who died on June 19, 1820, was celebrated by the Linnean Society on Thursday last, as mentioned on p. 496 of NATURE for June 17. After the usual formal business, Dr. B. Day don Jackson read the first communication on “Banks as a Traveller,” speaking of his four overseas voyage's—first, the visit to Newfoundland in H.M.S. Niger, on board which his friend Constantine Phipps, afterwards Lord Mulgrave, was a lieutenant; next, the adventurous voyage of the Endeavour, Lieut. Cook commander, when Banks so amply proved his value in many untoward events; third, the voyage to Iceland; and fourth, his trip to Rotterdam in 1773, when he was still eager for an expedition to the North. The second paper, by Dr. A. B. Rendle, was entitled “Banks as a Patron of Science.” Banks's life from his return to England in 1771 until its close in 1820 was that of an enthusiastic, liberal, and generally far-sighted patron of science. A friendship began with King George, which steadily increased, and Banks was consulted on important matters of very various kinds. He became botanical adviser to the King in relation to the Royal Gardens at Kew, which developed under Banks's guidance, becoming the repository of plants of economic and ornamental value from all parts of the world. Banks initiated or encouraged voyages of exploration, and kept up an extensive, correspondence with men interested in science overseas. His house in Soho Square was the rendezvous of students and men of all classes interested in schemes of philanthropy or science; his magnificent library and herbarium were at the service of other workers, and after his death were bequeathed to the British Museum. For forty-two years he was president of the Royal Society. He was very closely, though indirectly, associated with the origin of the Linnean Society. Mr. James Britten, in the third paper, began by remarking that much of his paper was based upon the daily use of Banksian specimens for nearly half a century in the British Museum. The author showed that the popular belief that Banks left all his botanic work to his secretaries and curators, Solander and Dryander, was a mistaken one, and that Banks displayed great botanic acquirements.
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The Centenary of Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. Nature 105, 530 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105530a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105530a0