Banks In The Land Of Ice And Fire

Discover how an impromptu expedition changed the future of a country.

Sir Joseph Banks, the influential British naturalist, botanist and patron of natural sciences was well known for accompanying Captain James Cook on the Endeavour. Redefining ideas of exploration, in 1772 he undertook the first British scientific voyage to Iceland.

Documenting the dramatic volcanic landscape for the first time and establishing friendships with the Icelandic community, his voyage helped shape the history of this remote island.

In this panel discussion, we explore Banks’ historical and scientific significance in Iceland and the North Atlantic. From a new compilation of his work, Anna Agnarsdóttir will discuss his personal and scientific manuscripts from the expedition and debate his subsequent involvement with the country during the Napoleonic Wars.

In association with The Hakluyt Society.