The year 1771 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Astronomy

Lagrange discusses how numerous astronomical observations should be combined so as to give the most probable result.[1]

Exploration

August 17 - Edinburgh botanist James Robertson makes the first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis in Scotland.

Mathematics

Lagrange publishes his second paper on the general process for solving an algebraic equation of any degree via Lagrange resolvents; and proves Wilson's theorem that if n is a prime, then (n − 1)! + 1 is always a multiple of n.

Organizations

Society of Civil Engineers first meets (in London), the world's oldest engineering society.[2][3]

Publications

Louis Antoine de Bougainville publishes Le voyage autour du monde, par la frégate La Boudeuse, et la flûte L'Étoile.
Peter Simon Pallas begins publication of Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs, chronicling his ongoing scientific expedition through the Russian Empire.
Arthur Young publishes The Farmer's Kalendar.

Awards

Copley Medal: Matthew Raper

Births

April 13 - Richard Trevithick (d. 1833), engineer and inventor.
October 13 - Johann Fischer von Waldheim (d. 1853), naturalist.
November 6 - Alois Senefelder (d. 1834), inventor of lithography.

Deaths

20 February 1771 Death of Jean-Jacques Mairan, in Paris, France

March 23 - Henry Hindley, English clock and scientific instrument maker (b. c.1701)
undated - Chester Moore Hall, English scientific instrument maker (b. 1703)

References

^ Miscellanea Taurinensia 5.
^ Watson, Garth (1989). The Smeatonians: The Society of Civil Engineers. London: Thomas Telford. ISBN 0-7277-1526-7.
^ Roberts, Gwilym (1995). From Kendal's Coffee House to Great George Street. London: Thomas Telford. ISBN 0-7277-2022-8.