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Sydney Parkinson

The artist’s impressions

Despite his early death, Sydney Parkinson made a great contribution to the records of the Endeavour voyage, being the first European artist to create drawings of Australia’s indigenous people, as well as Australian landscapes, from direct observation.

Hundreds of his drawings survive in the British Museum. He is famous for his botanical illustrations, which were later used to create the lavish plates for Joseph Banks’ Florilegium, a collection of engravings of plants collected by Banks and Daniels Solander during the Endeavour’s first voyage.

Parkinson was one of the casualties of sea life mentioned by James Roberts, dying of dysentery in January 1771 on board the Endeavour. His works later became the subject of a dispute between Joseph Banks and Sydney’s brother, Stanfield Parkinson. As his employer, Banks claimed rights to Sydney’s drawings, papers and collections made on the voyage. Stanfield, however, alleged that Sydney had willed them to his family.

Banks lent the Parkinson family Sydney’s journal and drawings with instructions that they were not to be published, but Stanfield disregarded this and arranged for A Journal of a voyage to the South Seas to be printed from his brother’s account of the voyage. Banks managed to suppress Stanfield’s publication until the official account of the voyage, edited by John Hawkesworth, appeared. In return for Parkinson’s papers, Banks paid Stanfield Parkinson £500 for balance of wages due to Sydney, but the dispute did not end there. Stanfield further accused Banks of retaining items collected by Sydney that were intended for his relatives. Stanfield Parkinson was declared insane soon after the publication of Sydney Parkinson’s Journal and died in an asylum.

The hand-coloured plates below are from the 1784 edition of Sydney Parkinson’s Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas. By this time, the rights to the journal had been acquired by naturalist John Fothergill, who supplied a preface responding to the accusations made by Stanfield Parkinson towards Joseph Banks in previous editions.

View the complete colour plates in Parkinson’s Journal via the Library’s catalogue

"Draughtsman - Died at Sea 26 Feby. 1771 Fever and Ague"

A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world / embellished
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746781
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world - Map
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world - Map
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784.
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746784
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world - Village
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world - Village
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784.
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771.
Digital ID: 
FL3746786
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world / embellished
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world / embellished
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771.
Digital ID: 
FL3746787
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world / embellished
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world / embellished
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784.
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746790
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world / embellished
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world / embellished
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746793
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - Burial place
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - Burial place
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746794
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world - instruments
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander around the world - instruments
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771.
Digital ID: 
FL3746797
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 journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander  - New Zealand Warrior
journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - New Zealand Warrior
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746799
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - New Zealand Chief
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - New Zealand Chief
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746800
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - a war canoe of New Zealand
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - a war canoe of New Zealand
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746802
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - arched rock
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - arched rock
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746804
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - View of peak
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - View of peak
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746806
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander  - Map of New Zealand
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - Map of New Zealand
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771.
Digital ID: 
FL3746809
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander  - utensils and instruments
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - utensils and instruments
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771
Digital ID: 
FL3746810
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A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - Natives of New Holland
A journal of a voyage to the South Seas : in His Majesty's ship, the Endeavour : faithfully transcribed from the papers of the last Sydney Parkinson, draughtsman to Joseph Banks, esq. on his late expedition with Dr. Solander - Natives of New Holland
London : printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, and James Phillips, in the George-Yard, 1784
Parkinson, Sydney, 1745?-1771.
Digital ID: 
FL3746811
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This story has been developed with the support of the State Library of NSW Foundation.

We would like to acknowledge the generosity of the Bruce and Joy Reid Foundation.