Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

Van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch textile merchant who became a pioneer of microbiology.

ANTON VAN LEEUWENHOEK THE STORY

AOIFE SHERRY 6 RANFORD

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Born on October 24, 1632 in Delft, The Netherlands, Leeuwenhoek was entirely self-taught and did not receive a school degree. His approach to top science, dismissing any type of scientific diploma, made him think freely, and directed him only towards his own passion and interests.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS Using handcrafted microscopes, Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the first person to observe and describe single celled organisms, which he originally referred to as animalcules, which we now call microorganisms. He was also the first to record and observe muscle fibres, bacteria and blood flow in small blood vessels.

HOW HE REACHED HIS ACHIEVEMENTS Anton van Leeuwenhoek was a salesman by profession who traded household linen. He often took magnifying glasses to judge the quality of cloth.

Leeuwenhoek made his own lenses of diamond shavings, which he got from Delft-diamond cutters.

He constructed his own microscopes which were basically simple instruments consisting of a single lens.

The product, containing two metal plates set to each other with a fixed lens in between, was however with high precision, and able to perform magnifications of around 300x (which is very high).

VAN LEEUWENHOEK'S MICROSCOPE After becoming interested in studying tiny creatures, he went on to create a new and improved microscope. It was made of brass with small spherical glass lenses. Basic in design, van Leeuwenhoek's instruments consisted of simple powerful magnifying glasses, rather than the compound microscopes (microscopes using more than one lens) of the type used today. The entire instrument was only 3-4 inches long, and had to be held up close to the eye, requiring good lighting and great patience to use.

LATER LIFE AND DEATH Leeuwenhoek gained worldwide fame with the observations of muscle fibres, bacteria and blood flow in small blood vessels, however he wrote in 1716 that “I did not strive for fame, but was driven by an inner craving for knowledge�. This great scientist died on August 16, 1723 at the age of 90.

BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.famousscientists.org/antonie-vanleeuwenhoek/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/van_le euwenhoek_antonie.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonie_van_Leeuwenh oek