Joseph Banks
Explorer
Explorer and naturalist who accompanied James Cook on several round-the-world sea voyages.
He became interested in the natural world as a child, and made that the subject of his studies at Oxford.
Although he had little formal scientific training, he collected and observed many samples which helped scientists back home.
He inherited a considerable sum from his father, which financed his seafaring adventures.
He was a member of the Royal Navy's scientific expedition to the South Pacific with James Cook.