The botanic gardens at Kew were founded in 1759 by Princess Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, and originally covered a small area c.4 hectares to the south of the Orangery. Around this botanic garden were two C18th gardens, to the south were royal pleasure gardens and kitchen gardens dating from 1729 designed by Charles Bridgeman for Queen Caroline and later redesigned by Capability Brown for George III in 1764. At the northern end the grounds were landscaped by Sir William Chambers (1723-96) for Princess Augusta. When Princess Augusta died in 1772, the two estates were merged and the Botanic Garden was enlarged. Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society and botanical adviser to George III and Queen Charlotte, introduced many new and exotic plants.
