1781 in science - Definition and Overview

The year 1781 in science and technology included many events, some of which are listed here.

See also: 1780 in science, other events of 1781, 1782 in science and the list of years in science.

Astronomy

• William Herschel discovers Uranus
• Charles Messier publishes final catalogue of Messier objects

Biology

• Felix Fontana uses a microscope to describe the axon of a brain cell

Chemistry

• Carl Wilhelm Scheele ascertains that a new acid could be made from tungstenite, leading to the discovery of tungsten in 1783

Awards

• Copley Medal: William Herschel

Births

• January 30 - Adelbert von Chamisso, poet, botanist (died 1838)
• February 17 - Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec, French physician, inventor of the stethoscope (died 1826)
• June 9 - George Stephenson, locomotive engineer (died 1848)
• June 21 - Simeon Poisson, mathematician (died 1840)
• July 6 - Thomas Stamford Raffles, founder of the Zoological Society of London (died 1826)
• October 5 - Bernhard Bolzano, mathematician (died 1848)
• December 11 - David Brewster, Scottish physicist (died 1868)

Deaths