<P> Antonie Philips van Leeuwenhoek FRS (/ ˈleɪvənhʊk /; Dutch: (ɑnˈtoːni vɑn ˈleːuə (n) ˌɦuk) (listen); 24 October 1632--26 August 1723) was a Dutch businessman and scientist in the Golden Age of Dutch science and technology . A largely self - taught man in science, he is commonly known as "the Father of Microbiology", and one of the first microscopists and microbiologists . Van Leeuwenhoek is best known for his pioneering work in microscopy and for his contributions toward the establishment of microbiology as a scientific discipline . </P> <P> Raised in Delft, Dutch Republic, van Leeuwenhoek worked as a draper in his youth and founded his own shop in 1654 . He became well recognized in municipal politics and developed an interest in lensmaking . In the 1670s, he started to explore microbial life with his microscope . This was one of the notable achievements of the Golden Age of Dutch exploration and discovery (c. 1590s--1720s). </P> <P> Using single - lensed microscopes of his own design, van Leeuwenhoek was the first to experiment with microbes, which he originally referred to as animalcules (from Latin animalculum = "tiny animal"). Through his experiments, he was the first to relatively determine their size . Most of the "animalcules" are now referred to as unicellular organisms, although he observed multicellular organisms in pond water . He was also the first to document microscopic observations of muscle fibers, bacteria, spermatozoa, red blood cells, crystals in gouty tophi, and blood flow in capillaries . Although van Leeuwenhoek did not write any books, his discoveries came to light through correspondence with the Royal Society, which published his letters . </P> <P> Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was born in Delft, Dutch Republic, on 24 October 1632 . On 4 November, he was baptized as Thonis . His father, Philips Antonisz van Leeuwenhoek, was a basket maker who died when Antonie was only five years old . His mother, Margaretha (Bel van den Berch), came from a well - to - do brewer's family . She remarried Jacob Jansz Molijn, a painter . Antonie had four older sisters: Margriet, Geertruyt, Neeltje, and Catharina . When he was around ten years old his step - father died . He attended school in Warmond for a short time before being sent to live in Benthuizen with his uncle, an attorney . At the age of 16 he became a bookkeeper's apprentice at a linen - draper's shop in Amsterdam, which was owned by the Scot William Davidson . Van Leeuwenhoek left there after six years . </P>

Who was the first person to view microbes under a microscope
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