Position:Home>History> Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, first microbioligist.....

(October 24, 1632 – August 30, 1723) He is best known for his work on the improvement of the microscope and for his contributions towards the establishment of microbiology!. Using his handcrafted microscopes he was the first to observe and describe single celled organisms, which he originally referred to as animalcules, and which we now refer to as microorganisms!. He was also the first to record microscopic observations of muscle fibers, bacteria, spermatozoa and blood flow in capillaries (small blood vessels)!.
During his lifetime van Leeuwenhoek ground over 500 optical lenses!. He also created over 400 different types of microscopes, only nine of which still exist today!. His microscopes were made of silver or copper metal frames holding hand-ground lenses!. Those that have survived the years are able to magnify up to 275 times!. It is suspected, though, that van Leeuwenhoek possessed some microscopes that could magnify up to 500 times!. Although he has been widely regarded as a dilettante or amateur, his scientific research was of remarkably high quality!.
Van Leeuwenhoek was a contemporary of another famous Delft citizen, painter Johannes Vermeer!. It has been suggested that he is the man portrayed in two of Vermeer's paintings of the late 1660s, The astronomer and The geographer!. Because they were both relatively important men in a city with only 24,000 inhabitants, it is possible that they were at least acquaintances!. also, it is known that van Leeuwenhoek acted as the executor when the painter died in 1675!. However, others argue that there appears to be little physical similarity!.
Van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch Reformed Calvinist!. He often referred with reverence to the wonders God designed in making creatures great and small!. He believed that his amazing discoveries were merely further proof of the great wonder of God's creation!.

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