Anton
Van Leeuwenhoek was
the father
of microbiology. He was the first man to see microbes, which were the
first
living organisms to appear on the earth. He was the first to describe
the
shapes of bacteria found in rain water and saliva of mouth. He made his
first
microscope in 1670.
He
was born in 1632 in Delft. When he grew up, he became apprentice to a
lens-maker. He lived his whole life working happily in his home town,
Delft.
From his youth, Leeuwenhoek had been interested in microscope. He
always made
lenses of his own instruments. He became a craftsman in the production
of
lenses and his fame gradually spread abroad.
The
microscopes constructed by Leeuwenhoek had only single lenses but he
put fine
skills into their manufacture. His instruments opened up a new world of
small
and tiny creatures. His microscopes were the world's best instruments
in their
respective field.
Leeuwenhoek,
the Dutch biologist, had no real scientific training, but his
self-acquired
knowledge and patient experiments led him to the discovery of microbes.
He was
probably the first man in the world to see bacteria, which he
discovered in the
tartar of teeth. He was in great surprise to see many small
animalcules, the
motions of which were very pleasing to behold. He found this moment so
exciting
that it led him to deep study of microbiology.
Leeuwenhoek
got married when he was quite young. Besides fulfilling his marital
responsibilities, he pursued the mysteries of nature in its minutest
forms. His
joy and enthusiasm for his subject lasted till his life.
His
observations about microbes were later collected into four volumes and
published in Holland. He wandered through nature with his lenses. His
work and
observation on the life of microbes gained for Leeuwenhoek praise from
all over
the world. He was the first to draw attention that insects infest plant
life.
Leeuwenhoek died in 1723.