1759 in science

Astronomy

• Halley's comet returns; a team of three mathematicians, Alexis Clairaut, Jérome Lalande and Nicole Reine Lepaute, had—for the first time—predicted the date.

  Biology

• Caspar Friedrich Wolff's dissertation at the University of Halle Theoria Generationis supports the theory of epigenesis.

  Botany

• Kew Gardens established in England by Augusta of Saxe-Coburg, the mother of George III.

  Geology

• Giovanni Arduino proposes dividing the geological history of Earth into four periods: Primitive, Secondary, Tertiary and Volcanic, or Quaternary.

Physics

• Posthumous publication of Émilie du Châtelet's French translation and commentary on Newton's Principia, Principes mathématiques de la philosophie naturelle.

  Medicine

• Angélique du Coudray publishes Abrégé de l'art des accouchements.

  Technology

• English clockmaker John Harrison produces his "No. 1 sea watch", the first successful marine chronometer.

  Transport

• James Brindley is engaged by the Duke of Bridgewater to construct a canal to transport coal to Manchester from the duke's mines at Worsley, in North West England.
• October 16 – Smeaton's Tower, John Smeaton's Eddystone Lighthouse off the coast of South West England, is first illuminated.

  Awards

• Copley Medal: John Smeaton

  Births

• December 2 – James Edward Smith, English botanist
• Date unknown – Maria Pettracini, Italian anatomist and physician

  Deaths

• February 16 – Bartholomew Mosse, Irish surgeon
• September 10 – Ferdinand Konščak, Croatian explorer