1720 in science

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The year 1720 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Astronomy

Medicine

  • May – First patient admitted to the Westminster Public Infirmary, predecessor of St George's Hospital, London.
  • Dr Steevens' Hospital is established at Kilmainham, Dublin.{{cite book|last=Kirkpatrick|first=Thomas Percy Claude|year=1924|title=The History of Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin 1720–1920|publisher=Dublin University Press}}
  • Great Plague of Marseille, the last major outbreak of bubonic plague in Europe.
  • English physician Richard Mead publishes A Short Discourse concerning Pestilential Contagion, and the Method to be used to prevent it.

Physics

Technology

  • A theodolite is developed by Jonathan Sisson of England.
  • Pinchbeck is invented by English watchmaker Christopher Pinchbeck; it is an alloy of 83% copper and 17% zinc, creating a strong, hard-wearing metal which has the appearance and weight of 20 carat gold.
  • An early chronograph is invented which has only mechanical parts in it.
  • Henry de Saumarez (of the Channel Islands) produces an instrument called the Marine Surveyor intended to measure a ship's velocity.{{cite journal|first=A. H. W.|last=Robinson|title=Forum|page=358-40|journal=Journal of Navigation|volume=9|year=1956|doi=10.1017/S0373463300036493|doi-access=free}}
  • A single-action five-pedal harp is developed by Jacob Hochbrucker of Bavaria which can raise the pitch of the selected strings by a half step.
  • approx. date – Joseph Williamson uses a differential gear in a clock.

Births

Deaths

  • December 29 – Maria Margarethe Kirch, German astronomer (born 1670){{cite web|title=Maria Kirch – German astronomer|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maria-Kirch|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate=5 April 2018|language=en}}
  • David Gregory, Scottish physician and inventor (born 1625)

References