1720 in science

The year 1720 in science and technology involved some significant events.

Technology

* A theodolite is developed by Jonathan Sisson of England.
* Pinchbeck, an alloy which was a commercially-produced gold substitute, is invented by English watchmaker Sir Christopher Pinchbeck: pinchbeck is an alloy of 83% copper and 17% zinc, creating a strong, hard-wearing metal which has the appearance and weight of genuine 20k gold.
* An early chronograph is invented which has only mechanical parts in it.
* Saumarez develops an instrument called the Marine Surveyor, for the dual purpose of measuring a ship's course and ascertaining velocity.
* The pedal harp is developed, as the first single-action pedal harp which could raise the pitch of the selected strings by a half step.
* The five-pedal single-action harp is developed by Jacob Hochbrucker of Bavaria.
* Edmond Halley is appointed as Astronomer Royal

Births

* March 13 - Charles Bonnet, Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer (died 1793)
* July 18 - Gilbert White, English naturalist (died 1793)
* James Hargreaves, English inventor (died 1778)

Deaths

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