Inventions and Discoveries. The following list purports to give only a few of the more important inventions and discoveries, chiefly such as have exercised a determining influence upon the civilisation of the world. The principal geographical discoveries have been already discussed under GEOGRAPHY. For other information, see Beckmann's History of Inventions, Discoveries, and Origins (new ed. 1888).
Mariner's Compass, invented in Europe in the 12th century, although known and used for centuries previously in China. Gunpowder, by Schwarz about 1320 (see GUNPOWDER). Printing, by Johann Gutenberg, about 1440 (see PRINTING). Copernican System, in 1543 by Copernicus (q.v.). Microscope, by Hans and Zacharias Janssen, or Zansz of Middelburg, about 1590.
Circulation of the Blood, by Harvey, in 1616.
Electricity, name invented and knowledge of advanced by W. Gilbert, 1651; induced electricity discovered in 1831, and its relation to magnetism shown in 1819 by Oersted and in 1838 by Faraday.
Law of Gravitation, by Newton, 1682.
Steam-engine, by Newcomen in 1705, and by Watt in 1768.
Pianoforte, by Cristofori of Florence, before 1720.
Clock, used in Europe in the 11th century. Chronometer, by John Harrison, 1762.
Spinning-jenny, by Hargreaves, in 1767.
Balloons used by Montgolfier, 1782-83.
Weaving-loom, by Cartwright, in 1785.
Gas-lighting, by William Murdoch, in 1792, at Redruth in Cornwall.
Vaccination, by Jenner, in 1796.
Steamboat proved practically useful, by Fulton on the Hudson, 1807.
Locomotive on railway, by George Stephenson, in 1814.
Miner's safety-lamp, by Davy, in 1816.
Photography, by Niepce, in 1828.
Electric Telegraph, by Morse, 1835, and by Wheatstone and Cooke, 1834-37 (see TELEGRAPH).
Penny Postage, by Sir Rowland Hill, 1840.
Sewing-machine, by Elias Howe, 1841.
Chloroform, used as an anesthetic by Simpson in 1848.
Evolution Theory, by Darwin and Wallace, in 1858.
Spectrum Analysis, by Kirchhoff and Bunsen, 1860.
Telephone (q.v.) in 1860-76.
Photograph, by Edison, in 1889.
Röntgen Rays, by Röntgen, at Würzburg, in 1895.
Argon (1895), followed by Krypton, Neon, Metargon, Coronium, Monium (1898).