The year 1670 in
science and
technology involved some significant events.
Botany
*
John Ray
John Ray FRS (29 November 1627 – 17 January 1705) was a Christian English naturalist widely regarded as one of the earliest of the English parson-naturalists. Until 1670, he wrote his name as John Wray. From then on, he used 'Ray', after ...
publishes ''Catalogus plantarum Angliæ'', the basis of all later
floras of England.
* The predecessor of the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is opened as a
physic garden by Drs
Robert Sibbald
Sir Robert Sibbald (15 April 1641 – August 1722) was a Scottish physician and antiquary.
Life
He was born in Edinburgh, the son of David Sibbald (brother of Sir James Sibbald) and Margaret Boyd (January 1606 – 10 July 1672). Educated at th ...
and
Andrew Balfour
Sir Andrew Balfour (21 March 1873 – 30 January 1931) was a Scottish Medical Officer who specialised in tropical medicine. Balfour spent twelve years in Khartoum, Sudan and was the Medical Officer of Health in the city. As well as writing m ...
in
Holyrood, Edinburgh,
Scotland.
Earth sciences
*
Jean Picard
Jean Picard (21 July 1620 – 12 July 1682) was a French astronomer and priest born in La Flèche, where he studied at the Jesuit Collège Royal Henry-Le-Grand.
He is principally notable for his accurate measure of the size of the Earth, base ...
calculates the
Earth radius to within 0.44% of the modern value.
*
Agostino Scilla
Agostino Scilla (10 August 1629 – 31 May 1700) was an Italian Baroque painter, paleontologist, geologist, numismatist, and a pioneer in the study of fossils and in scientific illustration. In addition to his paintings, he published an early te ...
publishes ' ("Vain Speculation Undeceived by Sense") in
Naples, arguing for an organic origin for fossils.
Technology
* The first
longcase clock
A grandfather clock (also a longcase clock, tall-case clock, grandfather's clock, or floor clock) is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are common ...
is built in England by William Clement.
Births
* February 25 –
Maria Margarethe Kirch ''born'' Winckelmann, German
astronomer (died
1720
Events
January–March
* February 10 – Edmond Halley is appointed as Astronomer Royal for England.
* January 21 – Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Stockholm (Great Northern War).
* February 17 – The Treaty of ...
)
Deaths
* March 10 –
Johann Rudolf Glauber, German
chemist (born
1604
Events
January–June
* January 1 – '' The Masque of Indian and China Knights'' is performed by courtiers of James VI and I at Hampton Court.
* January 14 – The Hampton Court Conference is held between James I of England ...
)
* May 21 –
Niccolò Zucchi, Italian astronomer (born
1586
Events
* January 18 – The 7.9 Tenshō earthquake strikes the Chubu region of Japan, triggering a tsunami and causing at least 8,000 deaths.
* June 16 – The deposed and imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots, recognizes Philip II of ...
)
References
{{Reflist
17th century in science
1670s in science