Which 18th century explorer first landed at Botany Bay Australia?

The first European explorer to discover botany Bay was James Cook, who did so in 1770. Originally Cook named the bay Stingray Harbour.

The name Botany Bay was suggested by Joseph Banks, the famed scientists and botanist who travelled with James Cook between 1768 and 1771. Banks was impressed by all the new species of flora and collected many new botanical specimens at Botany Bay - hence the name.