Antonie van Leeuwenhoek: The Curious Tradesman Who Opened Our Eyes to the Microcosmos

On October twenty-fourth, sixteen thirty-two, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was born in Delft, the Dutch Republic. He was a tradesman and an informal researcher, and his pioneering work laid the foundation for the fields of microbiology and cell biology.

Without any formal scientific education but driven by an unlimited curiosity, van Leeuwenhoek perfected the art of grinding his own, very powerful lenses. With these simple yet exceptionally clear microscopes, he became the first human to systematically observe and document microorganisms, which he called "animalcules." From the late sixteen-sixties onward, he described with astonishing accuracy a completely new world: he saw bacteria, protozoa, muscle cells, sperm cells, and blood cells. His careful observations and detailed reports to the British Royal Society demonstrated that there existed an entire ecosystem of living creatures completely invisible to the naked eye. Through his unique ability to construct instruments and his sharp powers of observation, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is rightfully credited as the "Father of Microbiology."