"In the year of 1657 I discovered very small living creatures in rain water."
~Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was born October 24, 1632 at Delft in the Netherlands. He died August 30, 1723 at ninety years old. On May 17th of 1638 his father died when Leeuwenhoek was only five years old. Instead of following his fathers footsteps and becoming a basket maker Leeuwenhoek became an apprentice to a textile merchant. After this apprenticeship he moved back to Delft to start his own linen-drapery; he was twenty years old. Sometime after the opening of his linen-drapery he was appointed as chamberlain to the sheriffs and nine years later he became a surveyor. Then in 1680 he was elected as a member of the Royal Society. Although he was a linen-draper he spent a fair amount of his time on his hobby, science. Today, Anton Van Leeuwenhoek is known as the "Father of Microbiology." One scientific accomplishment he obtained was being the first to observe bacteria.
Discovering A New World
The first microscopes were made around 1600. These microscopes has only one lens and were more powerful than any magnifying glass. Then microscopes with two or more lens had greater enlargement of the specimen although they also created blurry images; a problem for scientists. At this time Leeuwenhoek made hundreds of more simpler high-quality microscopes making him the first person to view the "miniature world."
Unlike to most scientists of that day and age Leeuwenhoek found the microscope to be an essential tool to a scientist. The lenses that he create for himself were high-quality. These lenses were mounted between then brass plates and could magnify objects by 50 or even 300 times.
Over a fifty year period Leeuwenhoek had been sending letters to the British Royal Society that described his microscope in much detail. In one of his letters he discussed his discovery of "tiny animals" or animalcules; what we know as protozoa.
Unlike to most scientists of that day and age Leeuwenhoek found the microscope to be an essential tool to a scientist. The lenses that he create for himself were high-quality. These lenses were mounted between then brass plates and could magnify objects by 50 or even 300 times.
Over a fifty year period Leeuwenhoek had been sending letters to the British Royal Society that described his microscope in much detail. In one of his letters he discussed his discovery of "tiny animals" or animalcules; what we know as protozoa.
Discoveries
Leeuwenhoek observed a variety of specimen underneath the microscope. These 'specimen' included: the lenses of the eyes, striations of muscles, mouthparts of insects, structures of plants, protozoa, and bacteria. Due to his investigations underneath the microscope he was the first person to correctly describe the red blood cell. Another one of his explorations led to the theory of spontaneous generation. Spontaneous generation is the idea that life could grow out of non-living substances.
Every thing that Leeuwenhoek observed he would write about. Though he would not only write about what he discovered and observed he would also draw what he observed underneath the microscope. This lead him to be the first person to draw an image of bacteria. It is because of these many discoveries that we call Leeuwenhoek the "father of microbiology" today.
Today all of the work done with microscopes in the field of microbiology is all thanks to Leeuwenhoek. This is because of the advancements in microscopes; the "descendants" of the simple lenses that Leeuwenhoek used when he first saw animalcules. Imagine where we would be today if Leeuwenhoek had never bothered to dabble in science with his personally made microscopes. Maybe today's microscopes would not be as advanced as they are.
Every thing that Leeuwenhoek observed he would write about. Though he would not only write about what he discovered and observed he would also draw what he observed underneath the microscope. This lead him to be the first person to draw an image of bacteria. It is because of these many discoveries that we call Leeuwenhoek the "father of microbiology" today.
Today all of the work done with microscopes in the field of microbiology is all thanks to Leeuwenhoek. This is because of the advancements in microscopes; the "descendants" of the simple lenses that Leeuwenhoek used when he first saw animalcules. Imagine where we would be today if Leeuwenhoek had never bothered to dabble in science with his personally made microscopes. Maybe today's microscopes would not be as advanced as they are.