husband of author Isabella Banks, was a British journalist, editor, poet, playwright, amateur actor, orator, and Methodist. George was born in Birmingham, the son of a seedsman familiar with the plant nomenclature of Carl Linnaeus. After a brief experience in a variety of trades, in his late teens George Banks became a contributor to various newspapers, and subsequently a playwright, being the author of plays, burlesques and lyrics. Between 1848 and 1864 he edited in succession a variety of newspapers, including the Birmingham Mercury and the Daily Express of Dublin.
