Joseph Banks (1743-1820), British naturalist and botanist. Banks made his reputation as a botanist on several voyages of discovery. Elected to the Royal Society in 1766, aged 23, he took part in an expedition to Newfoundland and Labrador. He then took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage (1768-1771) that included visits to Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. Banks was elected president of the Royal Society in 1778, holding the post for 48 years, and made a baronet in 1781. In 1795, he was made a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB), entitling him to wear the red sash seen here. In his hand, he is holding a botanical illustration.