Portrait.

This print, from West's oil portrait of about 1773 now in the Usher Art Gallery, Lincoln, originally bore just the simple title 'Mr Banks' when first issued in that year. This later impression bears the revised title above, tacitly suggesting it was re-issued for the Royal Society of which Banks became President in 1778 to his death in 1820, with two lines stating his other learned associations at home and abroad starting with 'F.A.S, Trust. Br. Mus....etc'. Banks had been created a baronet by George III in 1781, though - being childless - the baronetcy died with him. He is shown wearing a Maori cloak and surrounded by items gathered on Cook's first voyage in the 'Endeavour' (1768-71), which he accompanied for his own botanical interests. It made his name in the field as a gentleman scholar and, especially owing to his subsequent friendship with George III, an indispensable adviser on scientific matters thereafter.