Leewenhoek, Anton van

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Leewenhoek, Anton van (1632–1723) Dutch microscopist, who had little formal education. He is known for accurately grinding small lenses to make simple microscopes, with which he made the first observations of red blood cells, protozoa, and spermatozoa. He communicated regularly with the Royal Society in London, which published many of his findings in its Philosophical Transactions.

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