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.
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, 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
Births
- March 7 - Jean-Baptiste Dumangin, French physician
- June 22 – Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben, German naturalist
- August 1 – Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French naturalist
- August 16 – Pierre Méchain, French astronomer
- October 17 – Andrew Duncan, Scottish physician
Deaths
- February 14 – John Hadley, English mathematician
- April 25 – Anders Celsius, Swedish astronomer and thermometrician
- July 1 – Catherine Jérémie, French-Canadian botanist
- October 4/5 – John Serson, English inventor