Natural-history collecting
Born in London, Banks entered Christ Church, Oxford, in 1760 but left without a degree. In 1766 he travelled with Constantine Phipps to Labrador and Newfoundland, collecting plants and other natural-history specimens. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society that year.
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The Endeavour voyage
Banks sailed with James Cook on Endeavour from 1768 to 1771, working with the botanist Daniel Solander. The voyage combined astronomical observation, navigation and natural-history investigation, visiting South America, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and Java. Banks and Solander later travelled together to the Hebrides and Iceland in 1772.
References: [1]
Presidency and collections
Banks became President of the Royal Society in 1778 and remained in office until his death in 1820, the Society’s longest presidential tenure. The office involved chairing Council and overseeing administrative, financial and committee business. His scientific career therefore included sustained institutional work as well as collecting. His collections and library passed to the British Museum after his death.