"The quotation adduced above, shows incontestably that Cavendish discovered for himself, and had ascertained with great precision its chief properties; but in the absence of precise dates, I hesitate to adopt Mr. Harcourt's conclusions, that the paper from which I have quoted contains "the first clear description of nitrogen as a distinct gas.""
January 1, 1970
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Life_of_the_Honble_Henry_Cavendish