1764 in science
# 1764 in science

The year 1764 in science and technology involved some significant events.

## Astronomy

* Lagrange publishes on the libration of the Moon, and an explanation as to why the same face is always turned to the Earth, a problem which he treats with the aid of virtual work, containing the germ of his idea of generalized equations of motion.

## Physics

* Specific and latent heats are described by Joseph Black.

## Technology

* The spinning jenny, a multi-spool spinning wheel, is invented by James Hargreaves in Stanhill, near Blackburn, Lancashire, England.

## Awards

* Copley Medal: John Canton

## Births

* Early – James Smithson, British mineralogist, chemist and benefactor (died 1829)
* April 3 – John Abernethy, English surgeon (died 1831)
* May 4 – Joseph Carpue, English surgeon (died 1846)
* September 17 – John Goodricke, English astronomer (died 1786)
* October – William Symington, Scottish mechanical engineer and steamboat pioneer (died 1831)
* November 10 – Andrés Manuel del Río, Spanish chemist (died 1849)
* Maria Medina Coeli, Italian physician (died 1846)
* Approx. date – Alexander Mackenzie, Scottish explorer (died 1820)

## Deaths

* March 17
   * William Oliver, English physician (born 1695)
   * George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, English astronomer (born c. 1696)
* September 2 – Rev. Nathaniel Bliss, English Astronomer Royal (born 1700)
* November 20 – Christian Goldbach, Prussian mathematician (born 1690)
