February 24, 1743

Joseph Banks (February 24, 1743 to June 19, 1820), the naturalist, is a revered figure in the history of science. His travels with Captain Cook had allowed him to investigate Australia, and his renown on that topic is seen in the fauna named after him

'Because of his keen interest in the colony Banks has been called 'the Father of Australia'. Bankstown was named after him; a monument to his memory is at Kurnell; and the north headland of Botany Bay was named Cape Banks by Cook. His name has been commemorated in the notable plant genus, Banksia Linn.f. and by some Australian plant species, e.g. a red spider flower, Grevillea banksii R.Br.; the seaweed known as 'Neptune's necklace' or 'Bubble-weed', Hormosira banksii (Turn.) Decaisne; a sundew, Drosera banksii R.Br.; a wild pepper, Piper banksii Miq.; Tenterfield woollybutt, Eucalyptus banksii Maiden.'

And beyond botany we find, according to the Australian Dictionary of National Biography, the source of the details above, 'He became the acknowledged authority on New South Wales, and on an amazing range of other subjects: colonization, exploration, currency, botanic gardens, merino sheep, earthquakes, plant diseases and leather tanning.'

Banks' diary for 1768 October 21 has this entry.

'Trade continues. Today the cat killd our bird M. Avida who had lived with us ever since the 29th of Septr intirely on the flies which he caught for himself; he was hearty and in high health so that probably he might have livd a great while longer had fate been more kind.'

The journals of Joseph Banks are available online. The entry we quote was part of the journey in which Joseph Banks participated, to observe the transit of Venus.