Young Banks....The Lincolnshire Influence with Paul Scott

How growing up in Lincolnshire and his early school life gave Joseph Banks a platform for success in his later life.

Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS (1743-1820) was described recently by Sir David Attenborough as “The Great Panjandrum of Georgian Science”. This very vivid description reflects upon the position he held as President of the Royal Society for over 41 years. This was during a time when Britain was at the beginning of its industrial revolution, and which Richard Holmes describes in his incredible book as “The Age of Wonder”. Joseph Banks started his incredible journey from the fens of Lincolnshire to a circumnavigation of the globe with Lieutenant James Cook, and then to the very peak of the British establishment as the President of The Royal Society. He advised King George III on the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and was instrumental in sending botanists and gardeners around the world to collect plants, this was to result in Kew becoming the world's leading botanical gardens. Sir Joseph Banks died in 1820 and is buried in Heston. 2020 marked the bicentenary of his death.

This talk will explore the life of young Banks and his early influences, Banks the explorer and collector, and finally his significant period as president of the Royal Society. www.joseph-banks.org.uk

Paul Scott is a trustee and curator of the Joseph Banks Natural Science & Heritage Centre based in Horncastle. He has researched and written extensively on Joseph Banks and has delivered talks nationwide. In this talk, Joseph Banks' life will be examined, including his early influences, his role as an explorer and collector, and his notable time as president of the Royal Society.