Editing 1794 in science

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{{Science year nav|1794}}

The year '''1794 in [[science]]''' and [[technology]] involved some significant events.

==Anatomy==
* [[Antonio Scarpa]] publishes ''{{lang|la|Tabulae neurologicae ad illustrandam historiam cardiacorum nervorum, noni nervorum cerebri, glossopharingei et pharingei}}'', the first work to give an accurate depiction of cardiac innervation, and to include the discovery that the inner ear is filled with fluid.<ref>{{cite book|first=Louis J.|last=Acierno|year=1994|title=The History of Cardiology|publisher=Informa Health Care|isbn=1-85070-339-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor1=Jahn, Anthony F. |editor2=Santos-Sacchi, Joseph |year=2001|title=Physiology of the Ear|publisher=Thomson Delmar Learning|isbn=1-56593-994-8}}</ref>

==Astronomy==
* [[Ernst Chladni]] publishes ''Über den Ursprung der von Pallas gefundenen und anderer ihr ähnlicher Eisenmassen und über einige damit in Verbindung stehende Naturerscheinungen'' ("On the Origin of the [[Peter Simon Pallas|Pallas Iron]] and Others Similar to it, and on Some Associated Natural Phenomena") in which he proposes that [[meteorites]] have their origins in [[outer space]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Henry Smith|title=A History of Science|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hNEFAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA168|volume=3|year=1904|publisher=Harper|pages=168ff|chapter=5|isbn=0-250-40142-8}}</ref>
* Completion of the [[Radcliffe Observatory]] for the [[University of Oxford]], [[Thomas Hornsby]] being the first observer.

==Biology==
* [[Erasmus Darwin]] publishes the first edition of ''[[Zoonomia]]'', a medical work in two volumes that touches upon proto-evolutionary concepts, notably arguing that all extant organisms are descended from one [[common ancestor]]. The work will later influence his grandson, [[Charles Darwin]].
* [[Lazzaro Spallanzani]] publishes his conclusion that [[bat]]s use a means other than sight for locating themselves in darkness.<ref>Spallanzani, Lazzaro (1794). [https://books.google.com/books?id=nYucKchNzIwC&pg=PA1 ''Lettere sopra il sospetto di un nuovo senso nei pipistrelli''] (Letters on the suspicion of a new sense in bats). Turin:  Stamperia Reale (in Italian).</ref>

==Mathematics==
* [[Adrien-Marie Legendre]] publishes ''Éléments de géométrie'', which becomes a popular textbook for many years.
* [[Jurij Vega]] publishes ''Thesaurus Logarithmorum Completus'', a book of mathematical tables which reaches its 90th edition in 1924.

==Physiology and medicine==
* October 31 – [[John Dalton]] delivers a pioneering paper on [[colour blindness]] (a condition which he inherited) to the [[Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society]] in England a few weeks after joining.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Dalton|first=J.|year=1798|title=Extraordinary facts relating to the vision of colours; with observations|journal=Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester|volume=5|pages=28–45}}</ref>
* December – [[Glasgow Royal Infirmary]] first opens in [[Scotland]].
* [[Thomas Beddoes]] with [[James Watt]] publish ''Considerations on the Medicinal Use and on the Production of Factitious Airs'' in [[Bristol]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Stansfield|first=Dorothy A.|author2=Ronald G.|year=1986|title=Dr Thomas Beddoes and James Watt: Preparatory Work 1794–96 for the Bristol Pneumatic Institute|journal=Medical History|volume=30|pages=276–302|pmid=3523076|pmc=1139651|issue=3|doi=10.1017/s0025727300045713}}</ref>

==Technology==
* March 14 – [[Eli Whitney]] receives a [[patent]] for his [[cotton gin]] in the [[United States]].<ref>Later numbered as X72.</ref>
* ''Journal des Mines'' first published in [[Paris]] by ''l'Agence des mines de la République''.<ref>[http://annales.ensmp.fr/ Accès en ligne du ''Journal'' et des ''Annales des mines'' 1794-1881.]</ref>

==Institutions==
* The ''École centrale des travaux publics'' is founded by [[Lazare Carnot]] and [[Gaspard Monge]] in Paris under the [[National Convention]] in [[Revolutionary France]]; a year later it becomes the ''[[École Polytechnique]]''.
* The ''[[Musée des Arts et Métiers]]'' is established in Paris.

==Awards==
* [[Copley Medal]]: [[Alessandro Volta]]<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==
* January 7 – [[Eilhard Mitscherlich]], German chemist (died [[1863 in science|1863]]) 
* February 8 – [[Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge]], German analytical chemist (died [[1867 in science|1867]])
* May 24 – [[William Whewell]], English [[natural philosopher]] (died [[1866 in science|1866]])
* May 29 – [[Johann Heinrich von Mädler]], German [[astronomer]] (died [[1874 in science|1874]])
* August 15 – [[Elias Magnus Fries]], Swedish [[Botany|botanist]] (died [[1878 in science|1878]])
* September 24 – [[Jeanne Villepreux-Power]], French marine biologist (died [[1871 in science|1871]])
* October 6 – [[Charles Wilkins Short]], American botanist (died [[1863 in science|1863]])
* October 28 – [[Robert Liston]], Scottish [[surgeon]] (died [[1847 in science|1847]])
* December 31 – [[Pierre Adolphe Piorry]], French physician (died [[1879 in science|1879]])
* [[Ferdinand Deppe]], German [[naturalist]], [[explorer]] and painter (died [[1861 in science|1861]])
* Friedrich Freese, German botanist (died 1878)

==Deaths==
* February 22 – [[Caspar Friedrich Wolff]], German [[physiologist]] (born [[1733 in science|1733]])
* February 27 – [[Jean-Rodolphe Perronet]], French bridge engineer (born [[1708 in science|1708]])
* March 29 – [[Marquis de Condorcet]], French [[mathematician]] (born [[1743 in science|1743]]) (in prison)
* May 8 – [[Antoine Lavoisier]], French [[chemist]] (born 1743) ([[guillotine]]d)
* October 28 – [[John Smeaton]], English [[civil engineer]] (born [[1724 in science|1724]])
* Date unknown – [[Jacques Anselme Dorthès]], French physician, entomologist and naturalist (born [[1759 in science|1759]]) (on military service)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nicolas |first1=Michel |title=Histoire littéraire de Nîmes et des localités voisines qui forment actuellement le département du Gard |date=5 August 2016 |publisher=BnF collection ebooks |location=Paris |isbn=9782346019731 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ewXNDAAAQBAJ&q=Jacques+Anselme+Dorth%C3%A8s&pg=PT260 |access-date=25 February 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1794 in science| ]]
[[Category:18th century in science]]
[[Category:1790s in science]]