1720 in science
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The year 1720 in science and technology involved some significant events.
[edit] Technology
- A theodolite is developed by Jonathan Sisson of England.
- Pinchbeck, an alloy which was a commercially-produced gold substitute, is invented by English watchmaker Sir Christopher Pinchbeck: pinchbeck is an alloy of 83% copper and 17% zinc, creating a strong, hard-wearing metal which has the appearance and weight of genuine 20k gold.
- An early chronograph is invented which has only mechanical parts in it.
- Saumarez develops an instrument called the Marine Surveyor, for the dual purpose of measuring a ship's course and ascertaining velocity.
- The pedal harp is developed, as the first single-action pedal harp which could raise the pitch of the selected strings by a half step.
- The five-pedal single-action harp is developed by Jacob Hochbrucker of Bavaria.
- Edmond Halley is appointed as Astronomer Royal
[edit] Births
- March 13 - Charles Bonnet, Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer (died 1793)
- July 18 - Gilbert White, English naturalist (died 1793)
- James Hargreaves, English inventor (died 1778)
