Most of the papers of Joseph Banks held in the Library were received in 1909 as part of the Petherick Collection. They had been purchased by E.A. Petherick in 1886 at a Sotheby’s sale in London. The ...
Joseph Banks was born on 13 February 1743 in London. His passion for botany began at school. From 1760 to 1763 he studied at Oxford University, during which time he inherited a considerable fortune.