DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1041#0132
114 History of the Society of Dilettanti
the Earl of Sandwich, gave his name to the Sandwich
Islands, the once famous Botany Bay owed its name
to the field for successful research which it afforded
to Banks and his companion Solander. Banks was
proposed as a member of the Society of Dilettanti by
* Athenian ' Stuart and elected on February d, 1774.
In November, 1778, he was elected President of the
Royal Society, a post which he held—for a while in
the face of vehement opposition—until his death in
1820, when he bequeathed his valuable library to
the British Museum, thus becoming a second founder,
after Sir Hans Sloane, of what is now the Museum
of Natural History. Banks was one of the most dis-
tinguished and honoured members of the Society of
Dilettanti. In spite of his numerous occupations
elsewhere, he continued to act as Treasurer and
Secretary of the Society until June, 175*4, when he
resigned the former office to Mr. Philip Metcalfe, and
as Secretary alone until February 19, 1797, when the
following entry was made in the minutes:—
' A letter was received this day from Sir Jos. Banks to the great
Regret of the Society, expressing his intention of resigning the
office of Secretary (which he has performed so much to their
satisfaction & advantage for eighteen years).
'Order'd That a Letter be written to him by the Treasurer
conveying in the Strongest terms their regret at losing so good &
useful! an officer, & hoping shou'd he persist in his determination
that he will attend the Call on Sunday 5th March & to hope that
he will retain the office, till a successor be appointed/
Charles Charles Greville, who on the promotion of Banks
Greville, to be Secretary of the Society succeeded him in the
office of Very High, was a younger son of the Earl
of Warwick and nephew of Sir William Hamilton.
He was one of the best-known men in the England
of his day, a leader ofbaut ton, member of Parliament,
and well-known amateur and collector of coins,
the Earl of Sandwich, gave his name to the Sandwich
Islands, the once famous Botany Bay owed its name
to the field for successful research which it afforded
to Banks and his companion Solander. Banks was
proposed as a member of the Society of Dilettanti by
* Athenian ' Stuart and elected on February d, 1774.
In November, 1778, he was elected President of the
Royal Society, a post which he held—for a while in
the face of vehement opposition—until his death in
1820, when he bequeathed his valuable library to
the British Museum, thus becoming a second founder,
after Sir Hans Sloane, of what is now the Museum
of Natural History. Banks was one of the most dis-
tinguished and honoured members of the Society of
Dilettanti. In spite of his numerous occupations
elsewhere, he continued to act as Treasurer and
Secretary of the Society until June, 175*4, when he
resigned the former office to Mr. Philip Metcalfe, and
as Secretary alone until February 19, 1797, when the
following entry was made in the minutes:—
' A letter was received this day from Sir Jos. Banks to the great
Regret of the Society, expressing his intention of resigning the
office of Secretary (which he has performed so much to their
satisfaction & advantage for eighteen years).
'Order'd That a Letter be written to him by the Treasurer
conveying in the Strongest terms their regret at losing so good &
useful! an officer, & hoping shou'd he persist in his determination
that he will attend the Call on Sunday 5th March & to hope that
he will retain the office, till a successor be appointed/
Charles Charles Greville, who on the promotion of Banks
Greville, to be Secretary of the Society succeeded him in the
office of Very High, was a younger son of the Earl
of Warwick and nephew of Sir William Hamilton.
He was one of the best-known men in the England
of his day, a leader ofbaut ton, member of Parliament,
and well-known amateur and collector of coins,