Sydney Parkinson
c 1745 - 1771
Person TypeInstitution
BiographySydney Parkinson was born in Scotland and studied draughtsmanship under William de la Cour as part of his plans to work in the fabric industry. Parkinson’s drawing skills led him to focus his career on botanical drawing instead. After meeting Sir Joseph Banks in London in 1766 he was chosen to accompany the great naturalist on the Royal Navy's voyage of exploration of the Pacific under Captain James Cook. The voyage resulted in Parkinson producing some 1,300 botanical drawings, the first scientific botanical depictions of Australian flora and fauna. On the ship's return passage to England Parkinson became ill from dysentery and died on 26 January 1771.
