Who first discovered microbes?
“It turns out to be a Microscopist called Antony van Leeuwenhoek (Born in Delft, Netherlands, 24 October 1632, died 26 August 1723). He had no formal training in science and from the age of sixteen worked as a draper. This seems a bit of an unlikely background for the person who discovered microbes. What’s even more interesting is that Antony van Leeuwenhoek’s research followed no particular plan and was carried out, largely, with microscopes constructed by himself.” Please send questions or comments to feldman@surfnetkids.com. Previous columns are available.
Microbes were here long before the human family arrived to enjoy life on this wondrous planet. But until the microscope was invented, these swarming midgets were invisible. At last they were spotted by a man whose hobby was spying small miracles through his homemade microscopes. Ths olden city of delft stands on the flat lowlands of holland. Its neat canals axe bordered with story book houses and spanned by 70 bridges. It was the home of the painter Jan Vermeer, and for hundreds of years its fine blue pottery has been world famous. Anthony van Leeuwenhoek was born in this city of old world charm. The year was 1632, His life was crowded with business and civic activities, but he had time for a hobby which made him famous as the first man to spy and describe the tiny living things we call microbes. At 22, Leeuwenhoek ran his own textile store, and six years later he was chosen to be chamberlain to the city sheriff. He studied and became a surveyor, and later he became the city’s official
