Joseph Banks (MP for Peterborough) facts for kids

Joseph Banks (born June 21, 1695 – died March 31, 1741) was an important British landowner and politician. He lived at Revesby Abbey in Lincolnshire, England. Joseph Banks served as a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of the British government, from 1728 to 1734.

Early Life and Family

Joseph Banks was the oldest son of another man also named Joseph Banks. His family lived in Scofton, near Worksop in Nottinghamshire. In 1711, he started studying law at a famous place called the Middle Temple in London.

On April 11, 1714, Joseph Banks married Anne Hodgkinson. Anne was the daughter of a wealthy merchant named William Hodgkinson. In 1715, he became a lieutenant in the Nottinghamshire militia, which was a local army group.

When his father passed away in 1727, Joseph inherited the large family estate, Revesby Abbey. This estate was very valuable and brought in a lot of money each year, about £3,000. This was a huge amount of money back then!

Political Career

In 1728, Joseph Banks became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Peterborough. He won this seat in a special election held on May 22, 1728. At first, he was supported by the government in power.

However, Joseph Banks soon became unhappy. He had hoped to get an important local job called "custos rotulorum" for the city, but he didn't get it. Because of this disappointment, he decided to join the "Opposition." This meant he started voting against the government on almost every issue. He did not run for re-election in the 1734 British general election.

Other Achievements and Family

In 1730, Joseph Banks was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of scientists and thinkers in the United Kingdom. Being a Fellow meant he was recognized for his interest in knowledge and learning.

Sadly, his first wife, Anne, died on September 9, 1730. Joseph Banks married again on October 19, 1731. His second wife was Catherine Wallis, who was a widow.

From 1735 to 1736, Joseph Banks held another important local position. He was appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. The High Sheriff was a key official who helped keep law and order in the county.

Legacy

Joseph Banks passed away on March 31, 1741. He had a large family. With his first wife, Anne, he had three daughters and three sons. One of his sons, William, also became a Member of Parliament. Joseph also had two more sons with his second wife, Catherine.

His son William later became the father of a very famous person: Sir Joseph Banks. This Sir Joseph Banks was a well-known botanist, which means he studied plants. He traveled the world and discovered many new plant species!