1718 in science

Astronomy

• Edmond Halley discovers the proper motion of stars.

Chemistry

• Étienne François Geoffroy presents the first ever table of chemical affinity (based on displacement reactions) to the French Academy of Sciences.

Mathematics

• Abraham de Moivre publishes The Doctrine of Chances: a method of calculating the probabilities of events in play in English, which goes through several editions.

Medicine

• The Charitable Infirmary, Dublin, is founded by six surgeons in Ireland, the first public voluntary hospital in the British Isles.

Technology

• May 15 – James Puckle patents the Puckle Gun, in England.

Births

• May 16 – Maria Gaetana Agnesi, Italian mathematician (died 1799)
• May 23 – William Hunter, Scottish anatomist (died 1783)
• August 17 – Francis Willis, English physician specialising in mental disorders (died 1807)
• Salomée Halpir (née Rusiecki), Lithuanian physician (died after 1763)

Deaths

• March 11 – Guy-Crescent Fagon, French physician and botanist (born 1638)
• April – James Petiver, English naturalist and apothecary (born c. 1665)
• December 9 – Vincenzo Coronelli, Italian cartographer and encyclopedist (born 1650)
• December 11 – Pierre Dionis, French surgeon and anatomist (born 1643)

References

References

1. Ellyard, David. (2005). "Who Discovered What When". Hew Holland.
2. ''[https://archive.org/details/doctrinechances00moivgoog The Doctrine of Chances]''
3. Crilly, Tony. (2007). "50 Mathematical Ideas you really need to know". Quercus.
4. Widdess, J. D. H.. (1968). "The Charitable Infirmary, Jervis Street, Dublin, 1718–1968".
5. (1987). "The Charitable Infirmary, Jervis Street, 1718-1987: a farewell tribute". Anniversary Press.
6. (2006). "Penguin Pocket On This Day". Penguin Reference Library.
7. {{BNF. 12462161b