039 - June 1770

Join Sir Joseph Banks on his extraordinary journey aboard the Endeavour from 1768 to 1771, chronicling nearly daily observations of James Cooks first voyage to the Pacific. This captivating journal details the events, people, flora, fauna, and geology encountered on their route, which included Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Batavia, Cape Town, and St. Helena. As a naturalist appointed by the Royal Society, Banks not only funded fellow naturalists and artists for the expedition but also played a pivotal role in the scientific objectives, including the observation of the transit of Venus and the quest for the elusive Southern Continent. Upon returning to Britain, he became a prominent figure, serving as President of the Royal Society for over 40 years. However, his legacy is complex, as Banks and Cooks representation of Australia as terra nullius has been reevaluated in light of indigenous perspectives, prompting discussions about colonial impacts that resonate even today.