The year 1699 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Biology

* English physician Edward Tyson publishes '' Orang-Outang, sive Homo Sylvestris: or, the Anatomy of a Pygmie Compared with that of a Monkey, an Ape, and a Man'', a pioneering work of

comparative anatomy Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny (the evolution of species). The science began in the classical era, continuing in t ...

Exploration

* July 26 – William Dampier's expedition to New Holland (Australia) in HMS ''Roebuck'' reaches Dirk Hartog Island at the mouth of what he calls

Shark Bay Shark Bay (Malgana: ''Gathaagudu'', "two waters") is a World Heritage Site in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/shark-bay area is located approximately north of Perth, on the ...

in Western Australia and begins producing the first known detailed record of Australian flora and fauna. * ''approx. date'' – Sir Isaac Newton develops a reflecting quadrant.

Mathematics

Abraham Sharp Abraham Sharp (1653 – 18 July 1742) was an English mathematician and astronomer. Life Sharp was born in Horton Hall in Little Horton, Bradford, the son of well-to-do merchant John Sharp and Mary (née Clarkson) Sharp and was educated at Bradf ...

calculates π to 72 digits using an arctan sequence (although only 71 are correct).

Paleontology

* Edward Lhuyd produces the first published scientific treatment of what would now be recognized as a dinosaur, describing and naming a

sauropod Sauropoda (), whose members are known as sauropods (; from '' sauro-'' + '' -pod'', 'lizard-footed'), is a clade of saurischian ('lizard-hipped') dinosaurs. Sauropods had very long necks, long tails, small heads (relative to the rest of their bo ...

tooth, " Rutellum implicatum" found at Caswell, near Witney, Oxfordshire, England.

Births

* March 23 –

John Bartram John Bartram (March 23, 1699 – September 22, 1777) was an American botanist, horticulturist, and explorer, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for most of his career. Swedish botanist and taxonomist Carl Linnaeus said he was the "greatest na ...

, naturalist and explorer, "father of American botany" (died

1777 Events January–March * January 2 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of the Assunpink Creek: American general George Washington's army repulses a British attack by Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis, in a second ...

) * August 17 – Bernard de Jussieu,

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

(died

) * September 12 – John Martyn, English botanist (died

1768 Events January–March * January 9 – Philip Astley stages the first modern circus, with acrobats on galloping horses, in London. * February 11 – Samuel Adams's circular letter is issued by the Massachusetts House of Rep ...

)

Deaths

* March 21 –

Erhard Weigel Erhard Weigel (16 December 1625 – 20 March 1699) was a German mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. Biography Weigel earned his M.A. (1650) and his habilitation (1652) from the University of Leipzig. From 1653 until his death he was profess ...

, German mathematician and scientific populariser (born

1625 Events January–March * January 17 – Led by the Duke of Soubise, the Huguenots launch a second rebellion against King Louis XIII, with a surprise naval assault on a French fleet being prepared in Blavet. * February 3 – ...

) * November 18 –

Pierre Pomet Pierre Pomet ( – ) was a French pharmacist. Biography He was born in Paris. After learning, he travelled in Italia, Germany, Great Britain and Netherlands where he collected specimens, recipes, and knowledge. He came back in Paris and opene ...

, French pharmacist (born

1658 Events January–March * January 13 – Edward Sexby, who had plotted against Oliver Cromwell, dies in the Tower of London. * January 30 – The " March Across the Belts" (''Tåget över Bält''), Sweden's use of winter ...

)

References

{{reflist 17th century in science 1690s in science