Comment by bonoboTP

> Science funding was different back then. It was a rich men hobby, something done for amusement or to impress other rich men.

This is not the full story, but fits today's cartoon history caricature. In reality, there were also salaried employees who were teaching or working on developing practical applications, there were church fundings, the universities like Göttingen etc. Not all were particularly rich, Euler came from a modest background etc.