The subject of this memoir was born in London on the 13th of December, 1743. He was the only son of William Banks, Esquire, of Revesby, who died in 1761, leaving him, at the age of eighteen, possessed of an ample fortune. He was at that time a member of the University of Oxford; and it was in the retirement of collegiate studies that he acquired his taste for natural history. Immediately on his leaving the University, in 1763, he made a voyage to the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and returned with those habits of investigation which are induced by a contemplation of rare and novel objects. Having become a member of the Royal Society, his desire for further investigation of new worlds was again excited by the plan proposed by that learned body, for observing the expected transit of Venus, from one of the South Sea islands. No sooner did Mr. Banks understand that the Endeavour, commanded by Captain (then Lieutenant) Cook, was equipping for her voyage, and intended to prosecute further discovery after the observation of the transit, than he determined to embark in the expedition. Mr. Banks entered upon his preparations with a most generous spirit; providing himself with two draughtsmen, a secretary, and four servants, together with all the necessary books, and instruments. He was also accompanied by Dr. Solander, a Swedish gentleman, who had been the pupil of Linnæus. On the 26th of August, 1768, the Endeavour sailed from Plymouth, on this great expedition. In the passage to Madeira, Mr. Banks and his companions discovered many marine animals, which no naturalist had described. At Madeira, and as they sailed on to Rio Janeiro, their vigilance was still eagerly awake, and sufficiently gratified by observations and specimens new to science. The jealousy of the Portuguese greatly disappointed their curiosity, by forbidding their researches at Rio Janeiro. On Wednesday, April 12, 1769, the Endeavour arrived at Otaheite. For three months the voyagers continued at this and the contiguous isles, making the astronomical observations, for the sake chiefly of which Lieutenant Cook was sent out; surveying, as navigators, the coasts of the different isles; collecting specimens of the natural productions peculiar to them; and studying the language, manners, and arts of the islanders.