The year 1824 in science and technology

Mathematics

• Niels Henrik Abel partially proves that the general quintic or higher equations cannot be solved by a general formula involving only arithmetical operations and roots.
• Augustin Louis Cauchy proves convergence of the Euler method. In this proof, Cauchy uses the implicit Euler method

Technology

• Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot scientifically analyzes the efficiency of steam engines.
• Patent issued to Joseph Aspin for portland cement.

Awards

• Copley Medal: John Brinkley

Births

• February 7 - William Huggins (d. 1910), astronomer.
• February 16 - Peter Kozler (d. 1879), cartographer, geographer.
• March 12 - Gustav Kirchhoff (d. 1887), physicist.
• May 1 - Julius von Haast (d. 1887), German geologist.
• June 26 - William Thomson (d. 1907), Lord Kelvin, physicist.
• June 28 - Paul Pierre Broca (d. 1880), anthropologist.
• Wilhelm Friedrich Benedikt Hofmeister (d. 1877), botanist.

Deaths