The documented events in the life of Leeuwenhoek and his immediate family from his birth in 1632 to the auctioning of his microscopes in 1747 after his daughter's death.

Chronology of events: Antony

For some events, the year is certain but the month and day are not. Example: We know only the year for the collections of Leeuwenhoek's letters published in Dutch during his lifetime.

For other events, the season or month are certain but the day is not. Example: Leeuwenhoek mentions that someone visited him "last month".

On the other hand, many events did indeed happen on the first day of a month. Example: public appointments to Delft's city offices took effect on January 1 of each year. Thus:

  • A date of January 1 in a given year may indicate that the year is certain but the month and day are not.
  • A date of 1 in a given month may indicate that the year and month are certain but the day is not.

Unless otherwise indicated, for events in England, the date given is Old Style, 10 days behind the Dutch Republic's New Style until 1700 and then 11 days behind.

October 24, 1632 Born on Oosteinde
November 4, 1632 Baptized in Nieuwe Kerk
January 8, 1638 father Philips Thonis Leeuwenhoek buried in Nieuwe Kerk
December 1, 1640 mother Margriete Jacobs van den Berch married Jacob Jans de Molijn
January 1, 1641 Began attending school in Warmond
January 1, 1646 Apprenticed with his uncle in Benthuizen
January 1, 1648 Apprenticed at 16 in Amsterdam to Scottish linen merchant William Davidson
May 5, 1653 Got power of attorney for William Davidson during first Anglo-Dutch war (1652-54)
July 29, 1654 Married Barbara de Meij
January 1, 1655 Paid his entry fee to the Sint Nicolaas Gilde
February 16, 1655 Bought the house and shop on the west side of the Hippolytusbuurt
May 11, 1655 Inherited property on Oosteinde from first wife Barbara de Meij's family
September 24, 1656 daughter Maria Thonis Leeuwenhoek (1656-1745) baptized
September 1, 1658 Registered as a member of the Hervormde Gemeente Delft (Reformed Church in Delft)
December 19, 1659 Issued receipts to two nephews for dry goods
March 26, 1660 Appointed official of city magistrate's court
September 14, 1660 Compensated by city for expenses building wing for bridge
December 30, 1661 Received a raise from the mayors for his duties with the magistrates' court
January 13, 1662 aunt Annetje Jacobs van den Berch died, leaving money to Antony
October 23, 1662 Made will in which he and wife Barbara named each other universal heirs
June 25, 1664 Bought a garden outside the walls of the city
September 29, 1664 Owed for store goods by the estate of Elizabeth Cornelis
November 25, 1664 Received a legacy from the estate of great-aunt Aaltge Sebastiaans van den Berch
July 13, 1665 Appointed guardian of second cousin Maria van Halmael
July 14, 1666 wife Barbara de Meij buried in Oude Kerk
October 10, 1666 Appointed district supervisor (wijkmeester generaal)
March 11, 1667 Presented will after wife Barbara's death
May 18, 1667 Appointed curator of estate of Simon de Bourbon
January 1, 1668 Traveled to England
November 14, 1668 Delivered to the Weescamer his first accounting as curator over the person and assets of Sijmon Bourbon
February 4, 1669 Certified as a surveyor after passing the oral examination
September 2, 1670 Appointed co-wine gauger to help Dirk Arisz.
November 28, 1670 Delivered to the Weescamer his second accounting as curator over the person and assets of Sijmon Bourbon
January 8, 1671 Testified to marriage conditions with Cornelia Swalmius
January 25, 1671 Married Cornelia Johannes Swalmius
May 19, 1673 At age 40, first letter published in Philosophical Transactions
October 24, 1673 Leeuwenhoek's family members in 1673
January 1, 1674 Paid the Familiegeld (estate tax)
August 1, 1674 First observed little animals in water
August 15, 1674 Visited by Johannes Swammerdam
December 31, 1674 sister-in-law Catharina Swalmius buried
September 15, 1675 First observed little animals in rain water
July 1, 1676 Visited by Christiaan Huygens during the summer; he saw the little animals in Leeuwenhoek's infusions
September 30, 1676 Appointed curator of estate of Catherine Bolnes, Vermeer's widow
August 15, 1679 Appointed city inspector of imported and exported liquids / wine gauger
August 25, 1679 Called "an unlearned, but ingenious man" by Peter Pels
September 17, 1679 Paid tax on his personal stock of wine
February 8, 1680 Elected a member by the Royal Society
January 1, 1681 Sat for Cornelis de Man's Anatomy Lesson of Dr. 's Gravezande
January 1, 1684 Published Eyerstok (Ovary), Letters 37, 39 (L-122, L-135)
January 1, 1684 Published Humor Cristallinus (Crystalline Humor), Letter 41 (L-147)
January 1, 1684 Published Onsigtbare Geschapene Waarheden (Invisible Creation Truths), Letters 32, 33, 39 (L-108, L-111, L-135)
January 1, 1684 Published Schobbens in de Mond (Scales in the Mouth), Letter 40 (L-144)
June 15, 1684 Visited Christiaan Huygens in Den Haag with the Durven brothers
January 1, 1685 Published Anatomia et Contemplatio (Anatomy and Contemplation), Letters 43, 42, 38 (L-128, L-150, L-152)
January 1, 1685 Published Onsigtbare Verborgentheden (Invisible Mysteries), Letters 38, 42, 43 (L-152, L-150, L-128)
January 1, 1685 Published Sout-figuren (Salt figures), Letters 44, 45 (L-154, L-157)
January 1, 1685 Published Zaden van Boomen (Seeds of Trees), Letters 46, 47 (L-160, L-166)
February 5, 1685 Visited by Thomas Molyneux on behalf of the Royal Society
February 23, 1685 At age 52, his 25th article in Philosophical Transactions
June 22, 1685 Visited by John Locke
August 27, 1685 editor Edmond Halley did not publish any letters by Leeuwenhoek in Philosophical Transactions from 1685 to 1693
December 1, 1685 Visited by De Saingermain, who later called Leeuwenhoek a "Magus"
January 1, 1686 Published Cinnaber Naturalis (Natural Cinnabar), Letters 48 - 52
January 1, 1686 Published Levende Dierkens (Living Animals), Letters 28 - 31, 34 - 36
January 1, 1686 Sat for his oil portrait by artist Johannes Verkolje (1650-1693)
March 12, 1686 Thomas Gale wrote Letter L-169 to Leeuwenhoek reviewing his recent "ingenious and curious communications"
May 25, 1686 Edmond Halley wrote Letter L-176 to Leeuwenhoek about a gift from the Royal Society and requesting some portraits
May 29, 1686 The Royal Society decided to send a gift to Leeuwenhoek, De Historia Piscium by Francis Willughby
June 8, 1686 Bought a burial section in the Oude Kerk
September 7, 1686 Examined silkworm eggs
November 5, 1686 Visited by Jacob Gronovius
January 1, 1687 Published Anatomia Seu Interiora Rerum (Interior Anatomy), 19 Letters from 28 - 52
January 1, 1687 Published Anatomia Seu Interiora Rerum (Interior Anatomy), Letters 43, 42, 38
January 1, 1687 Published Vervolg der Brieven (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53 - 60
April 5, 1687 Guarantor for Johan Francisco de Raet when he became a citizen of Delft
October 7, 1687 Appointed curator of the insolvent estate of Evert van der Sijde
January 1, 1688 Published Vervolg der Brieven (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53 - 60 (2nd)
September 15, 1688 Published Den Waaragtigen Omloop des Bloeds (On the True Circulation of Blood), Letter 65 (L-200)
January 1, 1689 Published Continuatio Epistolarum (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53-60
January 1, 1689 Published Tweede Vervolg der Brieven (Second Continuation of the Letters), Letters 61 - 67
April 1, 1689 Did not write any letters between 1689 04-01 and 1691 09-18
April 23, 1689 Appointed guardian of the children of Jacob Bellart
September 7, 1690 Bought the other part of the garden outside the walls of the city
January 1, 1691 Published Onsigtbare Verborgentheden (Invisible Mysteries), Letters 38, 42, 43 (2nd)
January 1, 1692 William Molyneaux wrote about a visit to Leeuwenhoek
March 25, 1693 Published Derde Vervolg der Brieven (Third Continuation of the Letters), Letters 68 - 75
April 4, 1693 Received an honorarium from the city for his books of letters
November 21, 1693 Appointed guardian of his dying wife Cornelia Swalmius
November 30, 1693 Hans Sloane was elected Secretary of the Royal Society and editor of Philosophical Transactions, publishing 68 articles by Leeuwenhoek over the next twenty years
December 5, 1693 Rented St. Agnieten Tooren from the city for 12 years
December 29, 1693 Sold the garden outside the walls of the city
December 31, 1693 Promised to pay five gulden for the ransom of a neighbor's son from Algerian pirates
January 1, 1694 Published Onsigbare Geschapene Waarheden (Invisible Creation Truths), Letters 32, 39, 33
January 1, 1694 Published Vierde Vervolg der Brieven (Fourth Continuation of the Letters), Letters 76 - 83
January 6, 1694 wife Cornelia Johannes Swalmius buried
February 12, 1694 Presented act of guardianship to the Weeskamer after Cornelia's death
March 2, 1694 Presented Cornelia's will to the Weeskamer
May 11, 1694 Received an honorarium from the city for Vierde Vervolg der Brieven (Fourth Continuation of the Letters)
June 4, 1694 Visited Pieter Rabus in Rotterdam
January 1, 1695 Published Arcana Naturae Detecta (Nature's Mysteries Disclosed), Letters 32, 33, 37, 39 - 41, 61 - 92
January 1, 1695 Published Register van alle de Werken, Letters 28 - 83
April 30, 1695 Bought bonds and annuities from the city of Delft
December 14, 1695 Received an honorarium from the city for the Fifth Continuation of the Letters (Vijf Vervolg der Brieven)
January 1, 1696 Published Antony van Leeuwenhoeks 37ste Missive, Geschreven aan (Written to) de Heer Cristopher Wren
January 1, 1696 Published Antony van Leeuwenhoeks 40ste Missive, Geschreven aan (Written to) de Heer Francois Aston
January 1, 1696 Published Arcana Naturae Microscopiorum (Nature's Mcroscopical Mysteries), 19 Letters from 28 - 52 (2nd)
January 1, 1696 Published Continuatio Epistolarum (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53-60 (2nd)
January 1, 1696 Published Levende Dierkens (Living Animals), Letters 28 - 31, 34 - 36 (2nd)
January 1, 1696 Published Sout-figuren (Salt figures), Letters 44, 45 (2nd)
January 1, 1696 Published Vijfde Vervolg der Brieven (Fifth Continuation of the Letters), Letters 84 - 96
June 27, 1696 Named as renter of a garden outside the Schoolpoort
November 6, 1696 Received an honorarium from the city for the Sixth Continuation of the Letters
January 1, 1697 Published Continuatio Arcanorum Naturae detectorum (Continuation of Nature's Mysteries Disclosed), Letters 93 - 107
January 1, 1697 Published Sesde Vervolg der Brieven (Sixth Continuation of the Letters), Letters 97 - 107
January 1, 1697 Published Tweede Vervolg der Brieven (Second Continuation of the Letters), Letters 61 - 67 (2nd)
January 1, 1697 Published Zaden van Boomen (Seeds of Trees), Letters 46, 47 (2nd)
January 1, 1698 Published A. van Leeuwenhoeks 41ste Missive, Geschreven aen (written to) de Koninklijke Societeit tot Londen
January 1, 1698 Published Onsigtbare Verborgentheden (Invisible Mysteries), Letters 38, 42, 43 (3rd)
July 1, 1698 Traveled to Antwerp.
March 4, 1699 Listed as a correspondent of Claude Burlet by the Académie des Sciences of Paris
August 1, 1701 At age 68, his 50th publication in Philosophical Transactions
January 1, 1702 Published Sevende Vervolg der Brieven (Seventh Continuation of the Letters), Letters 108 - 146
January 1, 1704 Published Vervolg der Brieven (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53 - 60 (3rd)
January 1, 1704 Tried to resign from city inspector / wine gauger job
July 1, 1707 At age 74, his 75th publication in Philosophical Transactions
January 1, 1708 Published Arcana Naturae Microscopiorum (Nature's Mcroscopical Mysteries), 19 Letters from 28 - 52 (3rd)
May 8, 1708 Bought neighboring property on Nieuwstraat
December 4, 1710 Visited by Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach: "more of ingenuity than foundation"
February 11, 1712 Made will; he and daughter Maria universal heirs
January 1, 1713 Published Cinnaber Naturalis (Natural Cinnabar), Letters 48 - 52 (2nd)
January 1, 1715 astronomer Edmond Halley, editor again of Philosophical Transactions from 1715-1719, published only one letter by Leeuwenhoek
January 1, 1715 Published Continuatio Epistolarum (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53-60 (3rd)
February 27, 1715 Appointed executor of Leeuwenvelt estate
June 3, 1716 Received medal from faculty at Louvain
June 25, 1716 Witnessed baptism of great-niece Barbera, who died two weeks later
September 1, 1716 Visited by Hermaan Boerhaave, Frederik Ruysch, and Abraham van Bleiswijk
June 8, 1717 Named as neighbor in the inventory of Pieter van der Wilt's property
December 23, 1717 Named again as neighbor in the disposition of Pieter van der Wilt's estate
January 1, 1718 Published Send-Brieven (Epistles), Letters I - XLVI
December 6, 1718 Named again as a neighbor in final sale of Pieter van der Wilt's property
January 1, 1719 Published Epistolae ad Societatem (Letters to the Society), Letters 108 - 146
January 1, 1719 Published Epistolae Physiologicae (Physiological Letters), Letters I - XLVI
June 26, 1719 Made will with daughter Maria
May 1, 1721 At age 88, his 100th publication in Philosophical Transactions
November 17, 1721 Made will with daughter Maria
November 26, 1721 Amended will of November 17
November 30, 1721 Presented will of November 17 to notary Jan de Bries
January 1, 1722 Published Arcana Naturae Detecta (Nature's Mysteries Disclosed), Letters 32, 33, 37, 39 - 41, 61 - 92 (2nd)
January 1, 1722 Published Continuatio Arcanorum Naturae detectorum (Continuation of Nature's Mysteries Disclosed), Letters 93 - 107 (2nd)
January 1, 1722 Published Opera Omnia, seu Arcana Naturae Microscopiorum (The Works, or Nature's Microscopical Mysteries), 25 Letters from 28 - 60 (4th)
August 25, 1723 Requested on his deathbed that Hoogvliet translate his final two letters into Latin
August 26, 1723 Died in his Hippolytusbuurt home, 90 years old
August 31, 1723 Buried in Oude Kerk
September 4, 1723 Johannes Hoogvliet wrote a note to James Jurin accompanying his Latin translation of Leeuwenhoek's last two letters (AB 378)
October 4, 1723 daughter Maria wrote cover letter when she sent the cabinet with 26 magnifying glasses to the Royal Society (AB 381)
January 1, 1730 Published Continuatio Epistolarum (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53-60 (4th)
August 7, 1732 daughter Maria added codicil to 1721 will
November 14, 1739 daughter Maria funded the Oude Kerk memorial for her father
June 24, 1741 daughter Maria made a will providing for the graves
June 26, 1745 daughter Maria's estate inventoried
August 25, 1745 house on Hippolytusbuurt, het Gulden Hoofd, sold to great-nephew Dirk Haaxman
May 23, 1747 Andries Voorstad auctioned the books and instruments of a "Liefhebber"
May 29, 1747 Leeuwenhoek's magnifying glasses auctioned