1744 in science

The year 1744 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Astronomy

• Great Comet of 1744, first sighted in 1743, remains visible until April (perihelion about March 1).

Cartography

• César-François Cassini de Thury publishes a new triangulated map of France.

Earth sciences

• Susanna Drury's illustrations of the Giant's Causeway in northern Ireland are engraved by François Vivares in London (1743–4), bringing the rock formation to wide European notice.

Mathematics

• Leonhard Euler discovers the catenoid and proves it to be a minimal surface.

Medicine

• By July – Northampton General Hospital established as Northampton Infirmary in England.

Awards

• Copley Medal: Henry Baker

Births

• March 7 - Jean-Baptiste Dumangin, French physician (died 1826)
• June 22 – Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben, German naturalist (died 1777)
• August 1 – Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French naturalist (died 1829)
• August 16 – Pierre Méchain, French astronomer (died 1804)
• October 17 – Andrew Duncan, Scottish physician (died 1828)

Deaths

• February 14 – John Hadley, English mathematician (born 1682)
• April 25 – Anders Celsius, Swedish astronomer and thermometrician (born 1701)
• July 1 – Catherine Jérémie, French-Canadian botanist (born 1644)
• October 4/5 – John Serson, English inventor (in wreck of )

References