Chronology of events: 1673--1692

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.

Date
January 1, 1684 Published Humor Cristallinus (Crystalline Humor), Letter 41
February 26, 1684 Francis Aston wrote to Leeuwenhoek about the importance of his work
April 2, 1684 cousin Margrieta Maertens Leeuwenhoek married Michiel Reijniers van Hasseld
April 14, 1684 Wrote Letter 41 of 1684-04-14 (AB 80) to Francis Aston
May 26, 1684 William Molyneux demonstrated blood flow in a newt
June 15, 1684 Visited Christiaan Huygens in Den Haag with the Durven brothers
July 25, 1684 Wrote Letter 42 of 1684-07-25 (AB 81) to Members of the Royal Society
December 13, 1684 sister Catharina Philips Leeuwenhoek received legacy from great uncle Johan Sebastiaans van den Berch
December 20, 1684 cousin Geertruijt Huijchs Leeuwenhoek buried
January 1, 1685 Published Onsigtbare Verborgentheden (Invisible Mysteries), Letters 38, 42, 43
January 1, 1685 Published Zaden van Boomen (Seeds of Trees), Letters 46, 47
January 1, 1685 Published Sout-figuren (Salt figures), Letters 44, 45
January 1, 1685 Published Anatomia et Contemplatio (Anatomy and Contemplation), Letters 43, 42, 38
January 1, 1685 cousin Maerten Huijchs Leeuwenhoek appointed tax farmer
January 5, 1685 Wrote Letter 43 of 1685-01-05 (AB 82) to Members of the Royal Society
January 23, 1685 Wrote Letter 44 of 1685-01-23 (AB 83) to Members of the Royal Society
February 13, 1685 Visited by Thomas Molyneux on behalf of the Royal Society
March 30, 1685 Wrote Letter 45 of 1685-03-30 (AB 84) to Members of the Royal Society
June 22, 1685 Visited by John Locke
July 2, 1685 sister Catharina Leeuwenhoek appointed as tax collector for three years
July 11, 1685 cousin Adriaen Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek appointed curator
July 13, 1685 Wrote Letter 46 of 1685-07-13 (AB 85) to Members of the Royal Society
July 22, 1685 At age 52, his 25th publication in Philosophical Transactions
August 10, 1685 Wrote letter of 1685-08-10 (AB 86) to Anthonie Heinsius
August 27, 1685 editor Edmond Halley did not publish any letters by Leeuwenhoek in Philosophical Transactions from 1685 to 1693
September 21, 1685 Wrote letter of 1685-09-21 (AB 87) to Anthonie Heinsius
October 6, 1685 Visited by Karl von Hessen-Kassel and Willem Meester
October 12, 1685 Wrote Letter 47 of 1685-10-12 (AB 88) to Members of the Royal Society
December 25, 1685 cousin Elisabeth Maertens Leeuwenhoek married Dirck van Schie
January 1, 1686 Sat for his oil portrait by artist Johannes Verkolje (1650-1693)
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 22, 1686 Wrote Letter 48 of 1686-01-22 (AB 89) to Members of the Royal Society
January 27, 1686 The Royal Society elected Edmond Halley as clerk
March 2, 1686 Edmond Halley wrote a letter to Leeuwenhoek reviewing his recent "ingenious and curious communications"
April 2, 1686 Wrote Letter 49 of 1686-04-02 (AB 90) to Members of the Royal Society
May 14, 1686 Wrote letter of 1686-05-14 (AB 91) to Antonio Magliabechi
May 14, 1686 Wrote Letter 50 of 1686-05-14 (AB 92) to Members of the Royal Society
May 19, 1686 The Royal Society decided to send a gift to Leeuwenhoek
May 25, 1686 Edmond Halley wrote a letter to Leeuwenhoek about a gift from the Royal Society and requesting some portraits
June 8, 1686 Bought a burial section in the Oude Kerk
June 10, 1686 Wrote Letter 51 of 1686-06-10 (AB 93) to Members of the Royal Society
June 16, 1686 The Royal Society officers declared their satisfaction with election of Edmond Halley
July 10, 1686 Wrote Letter 52 of 1686-07-10 (AB 94) to Members of the Royal Society
September 7, 1686 Examined silkworm eggs
September 10, 1686 Wrote letter of 1686-09-10 (AB 95) to Daniël Papenbroek
October 30, 1686 Wrote letter of 1686-10-30 (AB 96) to Antonio Magliabechi
January 1, 1687 cousin Maarten Pieters Hogenhouck (1650-1720) appointed to Veertigraad, served 1687-1720
January 1, 1687 Published Vervolg der Brieven (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53 - 60
January 1, 1687 Published Anatomia Seu Interiora Rerum (Interior Anatomy), Letters 43, 42, 38
January 1, 1687 Published Anatomia Seu Interiora Rerum (Interior Anatomy), 19 Letters from 28 - 52
January 11, 1687 cousin Magdaleentje (Helena) Maertens Leeuwenhoek married Barent van Frijtom
March 1, 1687 Wrote letter of 1687-03-01 (AB 97) to James II, King of England
March 28, 1687 mentor Constantijn Huygens died
April 4, 1687 Wrote Letter 53 of 1687-04-04 (AB 98) to Members of the Royal Society
May 9, 1687 Wrote Letter 54 of 1687-05-09 (AB 99) to Members of the Royal Society
June 11, 1687 cousin Adriaen Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek admitted as notary
June 13, 1687 Wrote Letter 55 of 1687-06-13 (AB 100) to Members of the Royal Society
July 11, 1687 Wrote Letter 56 of 1687-07-11 (AB 101) to Members of the Royal Society
August 6, 1687 Wrote Letter 57 of 1687-08-06 (AB 102) to Members of the Royal Society
September 9, 1687 Wrote Letter 58 of 1687-09-09 (AB 103) to Members of the Royal Society
October 7, 1687 Appointed curator of the insolvent estate of Evert van der Sijde
October 17, 1687 Wrote Letter 59 of 1687-10-17 (AB 104) to Members of the Royal Society
November 24, 1687 nephew Johannes Adriaans Swalmius married Magdelena van Mierop
November 28, 1687 Wrote Letter 60 of 1687-11-28 (AB 105) to Members of the Royal Society
January 1, 1688 Published Vervolg der Brieven (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53 - 60 (2nd)
April 2, 1688 printer-bookseller Hendrik van Cronevelt bought the house next door
May 25, 1688 Wrote Letter 61 of 1688-05-25 (AB 106) to Members of the Royal Society
July 6, 1688 Wrote Letter 62 of 1688-07-06 (AB 107) to Members of the Royal Society
August 3, 1688 Wrote Letter 63 of 1688-08-03 (AB 108) to Members of the Royal Society

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