See also: 1768 in science, other events of 1769, 1770 in science and the list of years in science.
Astronomy June 3 - Transit of Venus is observed from many places in order to obtain data for measuring the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Most famously James Cook observes the transit from Tahiti. November 9 - Transit of Mercury. James Cook observes this from Mercury Bay in New Zealand Awards Copley Medal: William Hewson Births March 23 - William Smith, geologist (died 1839) April 25 - Marc Isambard Brunel, engineer (died 1849) August 23 - Georges Cuvier, zoologist (died 1832) September 14 - Alexander von Humboldt, naturalist and explorer (died 1859) Deaths
