Thomas Pennant born in 1726, he was a prominent ornithologist and zoologist and prolific author of the eighteenth century. His writings about natural history, topography and travel were based on his many tours of the British Isles and research into the world's animal kingdom. It was said that his writings achieved great success by always making dull scientific matters interesting. His circle of friends included Sir Joseph Banks and Captain James Cook, in 1771 he visited Banks shortly after he returned from his voyage around the world with Cook. It was at this time that Pennant came into possession of some of the specimens that Banks had bought back from the voyage and would later write about.

Thomas Pennant born in 1726, he was a prominent ornithologist and zoologist and prolific author of the eighteenth century. His writings about natural history, topography and travel were based on his many tours of the British Isles and research into the world's animal kingdom. It was said that his writings achieved great success by always making dull scientific matters interesting. His circle of friends included Sir Joseph Banks and Captain James Cook, in 1771 he visited Banks shortly after he returned from his voyage around the world with Cook. It was at this time that Pennant came into possession of some of the specimens that Banks had bought back from the voyage and would later write about.

The origins of the name Pennant Hills in the Cumberland area has long been debated, in recent times it has been argued that it was named after Thomas Pennant, apart from being an associate of Banks, he was a member of the Royal Society and known to senior people in the infant colony including Francis Grose the lieutenant-governor.