Farewell Antoni…

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Centraal, the blog,  is now officially retired. I began this site originally because I was disappointed that Holland, and the town of Delft in particular, had made no concrete attempt to recognize van Leeuwenhoek and his impact on early science. As far as I know, this has not changed. However, with the proliferation of blogs and web sites, I can rest assured that at least in the digital world, Leeuwenhoek will not be forgotten.

Particularly, there is one website that has excelled in the life and times of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. I want to encourage all visitors to this blog to visit the excellent Lens on Leeuwenhoek site: it is by far the best resource for all things Leeuwenhoek. And please, look to the sidebar for many more links to fascinating history of science sites.

I have not stopped blogging entirely. I will be opening a photography website soon, and I have just launched a new site called Splendor Awaits, which will reveal my primary interests: bugs and macro photography. Eventually I hope to continue my  fascination with the history of science at Splendor Awaits, particularly in regards to the history of entomology. No doubt Leeuwenhoek will be part of my life again then!

Goodbye, and please visit me at my new site.

Photo Album – The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Willem van der Meer

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Willem van der Meer by Pieter van Mierevelt (1596-1623). Delft.

Photo Album – Prince William the Silent

The statue of  Willem de Zwijger (“the Silent”) Prince William of Orange (1533 – 1584), as found in the garden of  the Prinsenhof, Delft. The Prinsenhof, originally a convent and then home to the Prince, is now a museum. In 1575, in honour of the brave resistance of the people of Leiden during a Spanish seige, Prince William founded the University of Leiden, the oldest university in The Netherlands. Beeckman, Boerhaave, s’ Gravesande, Hortensius, Huygens, Stevin and Swammerdam all had some association with the University of Leiden. Prince William was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard in the Prinsenhof on the 10 July, 1584.

Photo Album – De Oude Kerk, Delft.

The church where Leeuwenhoek lies buried: De Oude Kerk in Delft, the Netherlands.

Leeuwenhoek’s Tomb, Part II

Leeuwenhoek

On the floor, at the foot of  the wall tower memorial, we can find the stone which covers the tomb. On it is inscribed:

HIER RUST
ANTHONY VAN LEEWENHOEK,
OUTSTE LIT VAN DE KOONINCKLIJKE SOSYTEYT IN LONDE,
GEBOOREN BINNEN DE STADT DELFT OP DEN 24STEN OCTOBER 1632,
EN OVERLEEDEN OP DEN 26STEN AUGUSTY 1723,
OUT SYNDE 90 JAAR, 10 MAANDE EN 2 DAGEN

Here lies Anthony van Leewenhoek, oldest Fellow of the Royal Society in London, born in the town of Delft on the 24th of October 1632, and deceased on the 26th of August 1723, being aged 90 years, 10 months, and 2 days.

Below that, a short poem, composed by Hubert Poot ( 1689-1733)

HEEFT ELK, O WANDELAER, ALOM
ONTZAGH VOOR HOOGEN OUDERDOM
EN WONDERBARE GAVEN,
SOO SET EERBIEDIGH HIER UW’ STAP:
HIER LEGT DE GRYSE WEETENSCHAP
IN LEEWENHOEK BEGRAVEN.

Since everyone, O traveller,
Great age respects, everywhere,
And gifts of wondrous merit:
So here all reverently tread,
Where Science old and gray of head
In LEEWENHOEK lies buried.

Below the engraved image is the inscription for his daughter, Maria van Leeuwenhoek, who is also buried there and who provided for the memorial for her father.

(Translations adapted from Antony van Leeuwenhoek and His “Little Animals”: Being Some Account of the Father of Protozoology and Bacteriology and His Multifarious Discoveries in These Disciplines, by Clifford Dobell; Harcourt, Brace, 1922.)