The Multifarious Mr. Banks by Toby Musgrave
As Heard on The Daily Gardener Podcast:
The Multifarious Mr. Banks by Toby Musgrave
This book came out in 2020, and the subtitle is From Botany Bay to Kew, The Natural Historian Who Shaped the World.
Ah, Sir Joseph Banks, a man of such boundless curiosity and scientific acumen, was a true titan of the botanical world.
Toby Musgrave's The Multifarious Mr. Banks is a delightful and informative journey through the life of this remarkable individual.
A plant and garden historian, independent scholar, and consultant, Toby is the author or coauthor of eighteen books. By the way, a multifarious person has many sides or different qualities. You, dear reader, can see for yourself that Banks was a tremendous personal force in Toby's introduction:
Sir Joseph Banks was only twenty-five years old when in 1768 he convinced both the prestigious Royal Society and the bureaucratic Admiralty that he should join HMS Endeavour as expedition natural historian.
He personally paid a fortune toundertake the three-year voyage led by James Cook, and en route became the first European to make an extensive study of the natural history and anthropology of Tahiti,' New Zealand and Australia. He is said to have had an affair with the 'queen of Tahiti' and, upon his return, he jilted his fiancée.
Later, as a close personal friend of King George III, he persuaded the monarch that he was the man to develop the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. Under Banks's leadership it became the world's leading botanic garden, a position it still holds today.
From the windswept shores of Botany Bay to the grand halls of Kew Gardens, Banks's adventures are as captivating as they are enlightening. As a young man, his passion for natural history led him on a daring voyage aboard the HMS Endeavour, where he collected specimens and made groundbreaking discoveries. His meticulous observations and detailed records laid the foundation for our understanding of the flora and fauna of the Pacific world.
But Banks was more than just a botanist. He was a statesman, a philanthropist, and a visionary. As President of the Royal Society, he championed scientific inquiry and fostered a community of talented researchers. His influence extended far beyond the realm of academia, as he advised kings and queens and played a pivotal role in shaping British colonial policy.
Musgrave's writing is both scholarly and engaging, bringing Banks's fascinating life to vivid life. We witness his triumphs and his setbacks, his friendships and his rivalries. We learn about his love of gardening and his appreciation for the beauty of nature.
For those who appreciate the history of science, exploration, and empire, The Multifarious Mr. Banks is an absolute must-read. It is a testament to the power of human curiosity and the enduring legacy of a truly extraordinary man.
This book is 386 pages of the biography of Joseph Banks and all he accomplished during his incredible life of adventure and botany.
SI HORTUM IN HORTORIA PODCASTA IN BIBLIOTEHCA HABES, NIHIL DEERIT.
