- Vist to Highgrove House gardens
Friday 24th of September 2010
- Chinese Walled Gardens
Thursday 7th of October 2010
- Autumn Lecture The Soil Association - an overview
Thursday 21st of October 2010
Lecture on Sir Joseph Banks by David Robinson
Saturday 10th of April 2010 (2.30pm)
In this the 350th anniversary year of the Royal Society, we have organised this lecture about Sir Joseph Banks, who was a long time President of the Royal Society (1778- 1820).
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. In 1766, Banks travelled to Newfoundland and Labrador, collecting plant and other specimens. The same year he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
In 1768, he joined the Society's expedition, led by Captain James Cook, to explore the uncharted lands of the South Pacific. The expedition circumnavigated the globe and visited South America, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and Java. Banks collected an enormous number of specimens on the way and, on his return, his scientific account of the voyage and its discoveries sparked considerable interest across Europe.
Banks was interested in plants that could be used for practical purposes and be introduced into other countries for possible commercial use. After he became president of the Royal Society in 1778, he promoted the career of many scientists and in his capacity as director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, sent many botanists abroad to find new plants and extend the Gardens' collection.
In 1781 Banks was made a baronet, and in 1795 received the order of Knight Commander of the Bath. Two years later he was admitted to the privy council. In 1793, his name was given to the Banks Islands, a volcanic group of islands near Vanuatu in the Pacific. These were explored and named by Captain Bligh - Banks had helped arrange a previous expedition of Bligh's on HMS Bounty, which had ended in the famous mutiny.
Banks died on 19 June 1820.
David Robinson a geographer and retired University of Nottingham Resident Tutor is also a former editor of Lincolnshire Life and The Lincolnshire Poacher and author of 22 books on Lincolnshire landscapes, places and people. He is a Life President of the Joseph Banks Society and we anticipate that he will speak with authority and humour on the life of Joseph Banks, one of Lincolnshire’s famous sons.
The Sir Joseph Banks Society Centre in Horncastle, Lincolnshire now has a small garden containing plant introductions by Sir Joseph Banks. We hope to include this on one of the Trust’s future visits.
The usual refreshments will be served after the lecture. Contributions of home-made cakes will be most welcome.
As this is our first afternoon lecture we are uncertain as to the response and so we will also advertise to other groups. Numbers in the Octagon Room are limited to approximately 50 people, tickets therefore, will be necessary.
Costs: Members free Guests £2. Please note everyone will need to apply for a ticket.
For more information and to reserve your ticket: Contact us.
Where:
Octagon Room, St Johns Church, Clarendon Park Road, Leicester.