ANTON VAN LEEVWEEN HOEK

ANTON VAN LEEVWEEN HOEK
( 1632 - 1772 )

Microscope is an instrument through which we can see the small things which are otherwise cannot be seen with the naked eye. This instrument plays a important role today in science and industry. Simple Microscope was invented by Leevwen Hoek.

Earlier to him, Compound microscope was invented by Galileo. It was little difficult to see through it because magnification was taking place in two stages.

Leevwen Hoek was born on 24 October 1632. The family was living on basket and wine making. After his father’s death Leeven Hoek went to Amsterdam and worked as a clerk in a shop. He returned to his native Delf in Holland and started doing business.

Later he was nominated chamberlain. Leevwen Hoek showed interest in making Glass lenses. He made Lenses of lesser focal length. Few lenses he made were so small like the ball head of pins. He made about 400 lenses. Their microscopic power was from 50 to 300. He examined objects like hair, thread, head of insects etc., Through these lenses while Galileo had used his telescope to see stars and planets. People called Leevwen Hoek, a mad person.

It was a rainy day; he observed very small worms in water through microscope. They were invisible to naked eye. He stored rain water in a mug. While he examined the water he found microbes in it.

They were named animalcules. They spread though air. When he examined few model objects from the mouth and interstines. He could see microbes that caused diseases.

The Royal society honoured Leevwon Hoek in 1680 and he was given membership. The science institute of Paris also honored him. The Queen of Britain, the emperor of Russia, Peter the Great came to see him.

The microscope devised by Leevwen Hoek was very simple having only one lens and it was a good one. The compound microscope had group of two lenses.

Today we have electron microscopes to see virus and very minute particles. These microscopes magnifies them to 100,000 times.

Leevwen Hoek was the first to see the whole circulation of the blood with his own microscope. He was also the first to see the microscopic forms of life such as protozoa and bacteria. He also showed that Weevils, fleas and other tiny creatures come from eggs and are not spontaneously generated.

Leevwen Hoek was a healthy person to live till he was 91. He died in 1772. He was successful because of his remarkable patience.