assistant to Cook in checking navigational observations and the expedition was
equipped with two reflecting telescopes, an astronomical quadrant, a brass Hadley’s
sextant, a barometer, a journeyman’s clock and two thermometers. The Council of
the Royal Society recommended that the Endeavour sail to Tahiti as the place most
suitable for the southern observations and nominated one of its own fellows to join the
expedition, as explained in this letter:
Joseph Banks Esq., Fellow of this Society, a gentleman of large fortune, who is well versed
in Natural History, being desirous of undertaking the same voyage, the Council very
earnestly requests their Lordships, that in regard to Mr Banks’ great personal merit and for
the advancement of useful knowledge, he also, together with his suite, being seven persons
(that is eight persons in all) together with their baggage, be received on board the ship under
the command of Capt. Cook.It was Banks’ friendship with Lord Sandwich that probably influenced the Admiralty
to allow him and his large party to join the voyage although it was to be at his own
expense. He equipped his part of the expedition at a cost of £10,000 and convinced
both Daniel Solander
and the Finnish botanist
Herman Spöring to join
the expedition as part of
his private party. Joseph
Banks aimed to find and
classify as many new
species as possible and
for him this voyage was
a golden opportunity. As
described in a letter to
Linnaeus by John Ellis:
No people ever went to
sea better fitted out for
the purpose of Natural
History. They have got
a fine library of Natural
History; they have all sorts
of machines for catching
and preserving insects;
all kinds of nets, trawls,
Detail from the painting of the Earl of Pembroke leaving Whitby Harbour, drags and hooks for coral
Thomas Luny, 1768, National Library of Australia
Joseph Banks – The Voyage of the Endeavour 25