The expedition was promoted by the Royal Society and organised by its president Sir Joseph Banks, who shared the view of Caribbean plantation owners that breadfruit might grow well there and provide cheap food for the slaves.
A expedición foi patrocinada pola Royal Society e organizada polo seu presidente, Joseph Banks, que compartía a visión dos donos de plantacións caribeños de que as árbores do pan poderían ser cultivadas alá e servir como comida barata para os escravos.