The year 1744 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Astronomy

Great Comet of 1744, first sighted in 1743, remains visible until April (perihelion about March 1).[1]

Mathematics

Leonhard Euler discovers the catenoid and proves it to be a minimal surface.[2]

Awards

Copley Medal: Henry Baker

Births

June 22 - Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben, German naturalist (d. 1777)
August 1 - Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French naturalist (d. 1829)
16 August 1744 Birth of Pierre-François-André Méchain, in Laon, Aisne, France, French astronomer (d. 1804)
October 17 - Andrew Duncan, Scottish physician (d. 1828)

1744 Birth of Franz von Paula Gruithuisen

Deaths

April 25 - Anders Celsius, Swedish astronomer and thermometrician (b. 1701)

1744 Death of John Hadley

References

^ "C/1743 X1". JPL Small-Body Database Browser. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 1744-03-01. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
^ Euler, L. (1744). "Methodus inveniendi lineas curvas maximi minimive proprietate gaudentes". In Opera omnia I p. 24.