1574 in science

Archaeology

• In Rome, in the river Tiber between the two bridges, the monument base is discovered for a statue of Simon Paeter, with inscription "Simoni Deo Sancto".

  Exploration

• November 22 – Juan Fernández, a Portuguese navigator, discovers, along the coast of Chile, the Juan Fernández Islands, where later shipwreck survivor Alexander Selkirk will live for four years. The Juan Fernández fur seal is discovered and named.
• English seaman William Bourne produces a popular expanded version of Martín Cortés de Albacar's navigation manual Arte de Navegar entitled A Regiment for the Sea.

  Mineralogy

• The Charcas Mineral District in the state of San Luis Potosí is discovered for the mining of lead, zinc, copper, and silver.
• Publication of Lazarus Ercker's textbook Beschreibung allerfürnemisten mineralischen Ertzt und Berckwercksarten in Prague.

  Births

• March 5 – William Oughtred, English mathematician, inventor of the slide rule
• August 7 – Robert Dudley, English navigator
• October 27 – Simon Baskerville, English physician

  Deaths

• January 26 – Martin Helwig, Silesian cartographer
• August 27 – Bartolomeo Eustachi, Italian anatomist