1704 in science

The year 1704 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Astronomy

approx. date – The first modern orrery is built by George Graham and Thomas Tompion.

Daniel Defoe documents the Great Storm of 1703 with eyewitness testimonies in The Storm.

Isaac Newton releases a record of experiments and the deductions made from them in Opticks, a major contribution in study of optics and refraction of light.
Pierre Varignon invents the U-tube manometer, a device capable of measuring rarefaction in gases.

The second electric machine is invented by British engineer Francis Hauksbee the elder : it is a sphere of glass rotated by a wheel.
For watch movements, Peter Debaufre invents the Debaufre escapement, the first frictional rest watch escapement produced: the escapement consists of two saw-tooth escape wheels of the same count.
For watch bearings, a jewel bearing made of ruby, comprising a ring with a sink for oil, is invented by Nicholas Facio with Peter and Jacob Debaufre, who use pierced natural rubies. Other gemstones are used subsequently, including garnet and diamond; in the 20th century, synthetic ruby or sapphire becomes universal for jewel bearings.
In oil painting, colormaker Diesbach of Berlin accidentally invents the pigment Prussian blue, a powerful dark blue pigment with greenish undertones ; therefore, Prussian blue cannot be found in a paint layer predating this year.

February 28 – Louis Godin, French astronomer
June 4 – Benjamin Huntsman, English inventor and manufacturer
June 17 – John Kay, English inventor
July 31 – Gabriel Cramer, Genevan mathematician
December 29 – Martha Daniell Logan, American botanist
– William Battie, English psychiatrist undated – Richard Pococke, English anthropologist and explorer