Ten fun facts about Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Fact 1
Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the first to discover bacteria, protozoa, rotifers, spermatozoa, Hydra and Volvox as well as parthenogenesis in aphids.

Fact 2
He was born on 24th October, 1632 in the Netherlands.

Fact 3
Anton Leeuwenhoek was sent to grammar school of Warmond which was located in a village near Leiden. He began his career as a shopkeeper.

Fact 4
Between 1680 and 1702 Anton Leeuwenhoek carried out a series of micro dissections, mainly on insects when he made an original discovery of parthenogenesis in aphids.

Fact 5
He was appointed chamberlain to the sheriffs of Delft where he held office for 39 years.

Fact 6
In 1669 he took one of his microscopes on a visit to England and used it to examine chalk from the cliffs in Kent.

Fact 7
In 1674 he made his most important discovery early in his scientific career when he recognized the true nature of microorganisms.

Fact 8
He made his work known by writing more than 300 letters to private scientists and amateurs in both Holland other countries. Leeuwenhoek published his work only in 1684 and published Latin translations from 1684.

Fact 9
Although he had no academic training in science, he was elected a member of the Royal Society of London in 1680 and of the French Academy of Sciences in 1697.

Fact 10
Anton Leeuwenhoek died on 26th August, 1723.

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