Francis Masson

Masson was the first plant collector to be sent abroad by the newly appointed director Sir Joseph Banks; he sailed with James Cook on HMS Resolution to South Africa, landing in October 1772.

Returning to Kew, Masson found the gardening life tedious by comparison, and again turned to Banks for another opportunity to collect abroad.

The restrictions imposed on his movements by the Governor caused Masson considerable frustration, and when he sailed for England in March 1795, his plant collections bore little comparison with those of his triumphant first expedition.

Anticipating execution, Masson and his fellow travellers were much relieved to find themselves transferred to a German vessel bound for Baltimore, whence he was able to secure a passage to New York City, arriving in December.

During the next seven years he travelled widely collecting plants and seeds, visiting Niagara Peninsula and Lake Ontario, but amassed only 24 new species, a minuscule tally compared with his South African spoils.