ENGLISH SCHOOL Half-length portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society

ENGLISH SCHOOL Half-length portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society 1778-1820, seated in an interior, oil on canvas, 75cm x 61cm Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. Banks first made his name on the 1766 natural history expedition to Newfoundland and Labrador. He later took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage (1768-1771). Banks also advised King George III on the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, sending botanists all over the world to collect plants, making Kew the world's leading botanical garden. He held the position as President of the Royal Society for over 41 years.