(Born: 1743; Died: 1820) English naturalist.

Banks was educated at Harrow, Eaton, and Christ Church, Oxford; studied natural history, and accompanied Cook in his expedition round the world in the Endeavour, 1768-71, - upon his return, created hon. D.C.L. of Oxford; built a large collection of natural history objects including minerals, which are now preserved at the British Museum; visited Iceland, 1772; made baronet, 1781; F.R.S., 1766; president of the Royal Society, 1778-1820; first to observe that almost all Australian mammals were marsupials and more primitive than placental mammals of other continents; great patron of science, where his house in Soho Square became a frequent meeting place; plant genus "Banksia" named in his honor.

Biographical references: Catalogue of Portraits of Naturalists: 146-7 [32 portraits listed]. • DNB: 3, 129. • Poggendorff: 1, cols. 96-7 & 1532. • Thomas, Dictionary of Biography, 1884: 274. • World Who's Who in Science: 105.

Catalogus Bibliothecæ Historico-Naturalis Josephi Banks ... (Londini, 1796-1800).
See under: Dryander, Jonas Carlsson.

Letters from Iceland, containing Oberservations on the Civil, Litteral and Natural History, Antiquities, Volcanos, Basaltes. (London, 1780).
See under: Troil, Uno Von, Archbishop Of Upsala.

.