in the late 1780s bacstrom found a patron, whose name is unknown, who established him in an expensive laboratory in marylebone to conduct research in natural philosophy. when his sponsor died in 1789, bacstrom again found himself without work. he eventually received sponsorship to collect samples for banks on a voyage around the world via cape horn, nootka sound, china and the east indies that was to be undertaken by a group of london merchants as a commercial venture.