Trisha Shetty (Editor)

1759 in science

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1759 in science

The year 1759 in science and technology involved several significant events.

Contents

Astronomy

  • Halley's comet returns; a team of three mathematicians, Alexis Clairaut, Jérome Lalande and Nicole Reine Lepaute, had—for the first time—predicted the date.

    • Biology

  • Caspar Friedrich Wolff's dissertation at the University of Halle Theoria Generationis supports the theory of epigenesis.

    • Botany

  • Kew Gardens established in England by Augusta of Saxe-Coburg, the mother of George III.

    • Geology

  • Giovanni Arduino proposes dividing the geological history of Earth into four periods: Primitive, Secondary, Tertiary and Volcanic, or Quaternary.

    • Physics

  • Posthumous publication of Émilie du Châtelet's French translation and commentary on Newton's Principia, Principes mathématiques de la philosophie naturelle.

    • Medicine

  • Angélique du Coudray publishes Abrégé de l'art des accouchements ("The Art of Obstetrics").

    • Technology

  • English clockmaker John Harrison produces his "No. 1 sea watch" ("H4"), the first successful marine chronometer.

    • Transport

  • James Brindley is engaged by the Duke of Bridgewater to construct a canal to transport coal to Manchester from the duke's mines at Worsley, in North West England.
  • October 16 – Smeaton's Tower, John Smeaton's Eddystone Lighthouse off the coast of South West England, is first illuminated.

    • Awards

  • Copley Medal: John Smeaton

    • Births

  • December 2 – James Edward Smith, English botanist (died 1828)
  • Date unknown – Maria Pettracini, Italian anatomist and physician (died 1791)

    • Deaths

  • February 16 – Bartholomew Mosse, Irish surgeon (born 1712)
  • September 10 – Ferdinand Konščak, Croatian explorer (born 1703)

    • References

    1759 in science Wikipedia
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