Re: Which man was the first to explore the world of micro-organisms?

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your question. Microbiology is quite an old branch of the biological sciences with a history going back several hundred years. I guess the first person to explore the world of micro-organisms was the man who invented the first microscope. The compound microscope (that's a microscope with 2 lenses) was invented in 1590 by two Dutch lens grinders, Hans and Zacharias Janssen. However, the first person to use this kind of microscope for serious study was Robert Hooke. He published a book called Micrographia in 1665, with many detailed drawings, including the first observation of cells, in cork.

The "father of microbiology" is often said to be the Dutchman Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. He used very simple, single lens microscopes and was able to observe micro-organisms for the first time, including bacteria, algae and protists. He also observed swimming micro-organisms, which he referred to as animalcules. The Netherlands has very rich and interesting microbiological history-another famous Dutch microbiologist was Martinus Beijerinck, who also worked in Delft in the 19th century.

I hope this answers your question; take a look at this site and these links for some more information.

Neil Saunders