title: 1764 in science
text: # 1764 in science
  
  The year 1764 in science and technology involved some significant events.
  
  ## Astronomy
  
  * Lagrange publishes on the libration of the Moon, and an explanation as to why the same face is always turned to the Earth, a problem which he treats with the aid of virtual work, containing the germ of his idea of generalized equations of motion.
  
  ## Physics
  
  * Specific and latent heats are described by Joseph Black.
  
  ## Technology
  
  * The spinning jenny, a multi-spool spinning wheel, is invented by James Hargreaves in Stanhill, near Blackburn, Lancashire, England.
  
  ## Awards
  
  * Copley Medal: John Canton
  
  ## Births
  
  * Early – James Smithson, British mineralogist, chemist and benefactor (died 1829)
  * April 3 – John Abernethy, English surgeon (died 1831)
  * May 4 – Joseph Carpue, English surgeon (died 1846)
  * September 17 – John Goodricke, English astronomer (died 1786)
  * October – William Symington, Scottish mechanical engineer and steamboat pioneer (died 1831)
  * November 10 – Andrés Manuel del Río, Spanish chemist (died 1849)
  * Maria Medina Coeli, Italian physician (died 1846)
  * Approx. date – Alexander Mackenzie, Scottish explorer (died 1820)
  
  ## Deaths
  
  * March 17
     * William Oliver, English physician (born 1695)
     * George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, English astronomer (born c. 1696)
  * September 2 – Rev. Nathaniel Bliss, English Astronomer Royal (born 1700)
  * November 20 – Christian Goldbach, Prussian mathematician (born 1690)
  