1831 in science

The year 1831 in science and technology included many events, some of which are listed here.

Astronomy

• Heinrich Schwabe makes the first detailed drawing of the Big Red Spot on Jupiter

Chemistry

• A. A. Bussy publishes his Mémoire sur le Radical métallique de la Magnésie describing his method of isolating magnesium

Exploration

• December 27 – Charles Darwin starts his voyage on HMS Beagle

Awards

• Copley Medal: George Biddell Airy
• Wollaston Medal: William Smith

Births

• January 26 – Anton de Bary (d. 1888), surgeon, botanist, microbiologist, and mycologist.
• February 28 – Edward James Stone (d. 1897), astronomer.
• March 3 – George Pullman (d. 1897), inventor.
• May 16 – David Hughes (d. 1900), inventor.
• June 13 – James Clerk Maxwell (d. 1879), mathematician.
• August 20 – Eduard Suess (d. 1914), geologist.
• October 6 – Richard Dedekind (d. 1916), mathematician.
• October 29 – Othniel Charles Marsh (d. 1899), paleontologist.

Deaths

• June 27 – Sophie Germain (b. 1776), mathematician.