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 HMS Victory (1737))