Editing 1771 in science

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The year '''1771 in [[science]]''' and [[technology]] involved some significant events.

==Astronomy==
* [[Joseph Louis Lagrange|Lagrange]] discusses how numerous astronomical observations should be combined so as to give the most probable result.<ref>''Miscellanea Taurinensia'' '''5'''.</ref>

==Chemistry==
* British apothecary [[Thomas Henry (apothecary)|Thomas Henry]] invents a process for preparing [[magnesium oxide]].

==Exploration==
* August 17 – [[Edinburgh]] [[botanist]] [[James Robertson (botanist)|James Robertson]] makes the first recorded ascent of [[Ben Nevis]] in [[Scotland]].

==Mathematics==
* [[Joseph Louis Lagrange|Lagrange]] publishes his second paper on the general process for solving an [[algebraic equation]] of any degree via ''Lagrange [[Resolvent (Galois theory)|resolvents]]''; and proves [[Wilson's theorem]] that if ''n'' is a prime, then (''n'' − 1)! + 1 is always a multiple of ''n''.

==Medicine==
* [[Norfolk and Norwich Hospital]] founded in England.

==Events==
* March 15 – [[Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers|Society of Civil Engineers]] first meets (in [[London]]), the world's oldest engineering society.<ref>{{cite book|last=Watson|first=Garth|title=The Smeatonians: The Society of Civil Engineers|publisher=Thomas Telford|year=1989|location=London|isbn=0-7277-1526-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Gwilym|title=From Kendal's Coffee House to Great George Street|publisher=Thomas Telford|year=1995|location=London|isbn=0-7277-2022-8}}</ref>
* December 16 – [[French people|French]] chemist [[Antoine Lavoisier]] (28) marries [[Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze]], not yet 14 and daughter of his senior in the ''[[Ferme générale]]''.

==Publications==
* [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville]] publishes ''Le voyage autour du monde, par la frégate ''La Boudeuse'', et la flûte ''L'Étoile.
* [[Peter Simon Pallas]] begins publication of ''Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs'', chronicling his ongoing scientific expedition through the [[Russian Empire]].
* [[Arthur Young (writer)|Arthur Young]] publishes ''The Farmer's Kalendar''.

==Awards==
* [[Copley Medal]]: [[Matthew Raper]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Copley Medal {{!}} British scientific award |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/Copley-Medal |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |accessdate=21 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==Births==
* April 13 – [[Richard Trevithick]] (died [[1833 in science|1833]]), Cornish [[mechanical engineer]] and [[inventor]].
* August 22 – [[Henry Maudslay]] (died [[1831 in science|1831]]), English mechanical engineer and inventor.
* September 11 – [[Mungo Park (explorer)|Mungo Park]] (died [[1806 in science|1806]]), Scottish explorer.
* October 13 – [[Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim]] (died [[1853 in science|1853]]), Saxon-born [[naturalist]].
* November 6 – [[Alois Senefelder]] (died [[1834 in science|1834]]), Prague-born German inventor of [[lithography]].
* December 14 – [[Regina von Siebold]] (died [[1849 in science|1849]]), German physician and obstetrician.

==Deaths==
* February 20 – [[Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan]], French [[geophysicist]], [[astronomer]] and [[chronobiologist]] (born [[1678 in science|1678]])
* March 17 – [[Chester Moore Hall]], English scientific instrument maker (born [[1703 in science|1703]])
* March 23 – [[Henry Hindley]], English clock and scientific instrument maker (born c. [[1701 in science|1701]])
* December 6 – [[Giovanni Battista Morgagni]], Italian [[anatomist]] (born [[1682 in science|1682]])
* December 15 – [[Benjamin Stillingfleet]], English botanist (born [[1702 in science|1702]])

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1771 in science| ]]
[[Category:18th century in science]]
[[Category:1770s in science]]