Chronology of events:

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
February 18, 1677 The Royal Society read the second part of Leeuwenhoek's long letter of October 9, 1676
February 22, 1677 Henry Oldenburg wrote to Leeuwenhoek for more details about his method for observing little animals
March 4, 1677 Henry Oldenburg wrote to Leeuwenhoek requesting that he examine muscle fibers and brains
March 8, 1677 The Royal Society read the third part of Leeuwenhoek's long letter of October 9, 1676.
March 8, 1677 Named quartermaster of the 2nd quarter
March 12, 1677 Maria Thins filed a legal action to prevent Leeuwenhoek from selling The Art of Painting
March 15, 1677 Organized the auction of Vermeer's remaining paintings
March 23, 1677 Wrote Letter 19 of 1677-03-23 (AB 31) to Henry Oldenburg
March 25, 1677 The Royal Society published Michael Butterfield's letter about melting glass to make spherical lenses
March 25, 1677 The Royal Society published Leeuwenhoek's letter of October 9, 1676, reporting microbes in infusions
March 29, 1677 The Royal Society read Leeuwenhoek's letter of March 23, 1677
April 20, 1677 Henry Oldenburg wrote to Leeuwenhoek relaying the compliments of the members of the Royal Society
May 14, 1677 Wrote Letter 20 of 1677-05-14 (AB 32) to Henry Oldenburg
May 18, 1677 Benedict Haan and Henry Cordes wrote to the Royal Society attesting to microbes in Leeuwenhoek's infusions
May 27, 1677 The Royal Society read Leeuwenhoek's letter of May 14, 1677
June 2, 1677 Robbert Gordon wrote to the Royal Society attesting to microbes in Leeuwenhoek's infusions
August 7, 1677 Henry Oldenburg wrote to Leeuwenhoek; sent Philosophical Transactions no. 136
August 13, 1677 Aldert Hodenpijl wrote to the Royal Society attesting to microbes in Leeuwenhoek's infusions
August 21, 1677 Johannes Boogert, Robert Poitevin, and W. van der Burch wrote to the Royal Society attesting to microbes in Leeuwenhoek's infusions
August 30, 1677 Alex Petrie wrote to the Royal Society attesting to microbes in Leeuwenhoek's infusions
September 5, 1677 mentor Henry Oldenburg died in London
October 5, 1677 Wrote Letter 21 of 1677-10-05 (AB 33) to Henry Oldenburg
October 15, 1677 The Royal Society requested that Robert Hooke try to replicate Leeuwenhoek's observations
October 16, 1677 Wrote letter of 1677-10-16 (AB 34) to William Brouncker
November 1, 1677 Robert Hooke failed to demonstrate "minute animals" in pump water. The Royal Society read the testimonials from people in Delft.
November 8, 1677 Using an improved microscope, Hooke again failed
November 9, 1677 Wrote Letter 22 of 1677-11-09 (AB 35) to William Brouncker
November 15, 1677 Robert Hooke finally succeeded in replicating Leeuwenhoek's observations of little animals
November 15, 1677 Bought land near Berkelse Meer
December 1, 1677 Robert Hooke wrote to Leeuwenhoek verifying his observations in pepper water
December 2, 1677 Wrote letter of 1677-12-02 (AB 36) to William Brouncker
December 6, 1677 Robert Hooke demonstrated the superiority of single-lens over double-lens microscopes
December 8, 1677 Constantijn Huygens wrote to Leeuwenhoek about his observations of sperm
January 1, 1678 Robert Hooke's Lectures and Collections: Cometa, Microscopium published
January 1, 1678 Nehemiah Grew wrote to Leeuwenhoek asking him to further observe sperm
January 14, 1678 Wrote Letter 23 of 1678-01-14 (AB 37) to Robert Hooke
February 1, 1678 Empowered a Gouda notary to sell Vermeer's property to help pay Catherine Bolnes's creditors
February 28, 1678 Christiaan Huygens began series of observations of microbes replicating and expanding on Leeuwenhoek's
March 14, 1678 Robert Hooke read his paper about his microscopic observations and methods
March 18, 1678 Wrote Letter 24 of 1678-03-18 (AB 38) to Nehemiah Grew
April 18, 1678 Robert Hooke wrote to Leeuwenhoek that King Charles saw the little animals in pepper water
April 28, 1678 Jan Swammerdam called Leeuwenhoek "biased, and reasons in a very barbarical way"
May 9, 1678 niece Maria Jans de Molijn buried
May 31, 1678 Wrote Letter 25 of 1678-05-31 (AB 39) to Nehemiah Grew
June 13, 1678 Christiaan Huygens wrote to Nehemiah Grew about seeing the sperm in human semen
July 4, 1678 Lambert Twent named first postmaster of Delft
September 27, 1678 Wrote Letter 26 of 1678-09-27 (AB 40) to Nehemiah Grew
October 14, 1678 sister Margrieta Philips Leeuwenhoek buried
October 31, 1678 Christiaan Huygens's method of melting powdered glass to make a spherical lens
November 6, 1678 daughter Maria registered as a member of the Hervormde Gemeente Delft (Reformed Church in Delft)
December 26, 1678 Wrote letter of 1678-12-26 (AB 41) to Constantijn Huygens
January 25, 1679 Authorized to administer the estate of Ernst Gerrits de Bruijn
February 10, 1679 Appointed curator; Johannes Blaucamer guarantor
February 21, 1679 Wrote Letter 27 of 1679-02-21 (AB 42) to Nehemiah Grew
April 1, 1679 cousin Maerten Huijchs Leeuwenhoek appointed tax master
April 25, 1679 Wrote Letter 28 of 1679-04-25 (AB 43) to Nehemiah Grew
April 27, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-04-27 (AB 44) to Constantijn Huygens
May 1, 1679 Visited by James, Duke of York, and "several high personages"
May 4, 1679 mentor Constantijn Huygens called Leeuwenhoek the "magician of Delft"
May 11, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-05-11 (AB 45) to Lambert van Velthuysen
May 15, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-05-15 (AB 46) to Christiaan Huygens
May 20, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-05-20 (AB 47) to Constantijn Huygens
June 13, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-06-13 (AB 48) to Nehemiah Grew
June 13, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-06-13 (AB 49) to Lambert van Velthuysen
July 11, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-07-11 (AB 50) to Lambert van Velthuysen
August 15, 1679 Appointed city inspector of imported and exported liquids / wine gauger
August 25, 1679 Called "an illiterate, but ingenious man" by Peter Pels
September 4, 1679 colleague Nicolaas van der Sloot appointed co-wine gauger
September 17, 1679 Paid tax on his personal stock of wijn
October 13, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-10-13 (AB 51) to Robert Hooke
October 30, 1679 cousin Pieter Abrahams Hogenhouck buried
November 1, 1679 Philosophical Collections number 1 published in London; one letter by Leeuwenhoek
November 14, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-11-14 (AB 52) to Lambert van Velthuysen
November 20, 1679 Wrote letter of 1679-11-20 (AB 53) to Robert Hooke
January 12, 1680 Wrote Letter 29 of 1680-01-12 (AB 54) to Robert Hooke
January 16, 1680 Wrote letter of 1680-01-16 (AB 55) to Robert Hooke
February 2, 1680 Robert Hooke inquired whether Leeuwenhoek would accept election to the Royal Society
February 7, 1680 microscopist Jan Swammerdam died
February 8, 1680 Elected a Fellow by the Royal Society
February 13, 1680 Wrote letter of 1680-02-13 (AB 56) to Robert Hooke
February 18, 1680 cousin Margaretha (Grietjen) Huijchs Leeuwenhoek married Gijsbert Pieterse Cruijt
February 22, 1680 Thomas Gale authorized by the Royal Society to send diploma with seal to Leeuwenhoek
March 1, 1680 The Royal Society discussed Leeuwenhoek's diploma
March 4, 1680 The Royal Society discussed a silver box for Leeuwenhoek's diploma
March 7, 1680 Thomas Gale sent Leeuwenhoek official notice of his election as member of the Royal Society
March 14, 1680 The Royal Society further discussed Leeuwenhoek's diploma
April 5, 1680 Wrote Letter 30 of 1680-04-05 (AB 57) to Robert Hooke
April 22, 1680 Robert Hooke sent Leeuwenhoek official notice of his election as member of the Royal Society
May 13, 1680 Wrote letter of 1680-05-13 (AB 58) to Members of the Royal Society
May 13, 1680 Wrote letter of 1680-05-13 (AB 59) to Robert Hooke
May 13, 1680 Wrote Letter 31 of 1680-05-13 (AB 60) to Thomas Gale
June 14, 1680 Wrote letter of 1680-06-14 (AB 61) to Robert Hooke
June 14, 1680 Wrote Letter 32 of 1680-06-14 (AB 62) to Thomas Gale
August 9, 1680 Wrote letter of 1680-08-09 (AB 63) to Robert Hooke
August 13, 1680 Constantijn Huygens, jr., called Leeuwenhoek "the great man of the century"
September 28, 1680 Wrote letter of 1680-09-28 (AB 64) to Thomas Gale
November 12, 1680 Wrote Letter 33 of 1680-11-12 (AB 65) to Robert Hooke
January 1, 1681 Sat for Cornelis de Man's Anatomy Lesson of Dr. 's Gravezande
January 8, 1681 Appointed curator of the abandoned estate of Willemtie Pieters Touw
April 29, 1681 cousin Jannitgen Huijchs Leeuwenhoek buried
June 8, 1681 cousin Maria Maertens Leeuwenhoek married Jan den Appel
June 17, 1681 co-worker Daniel Bogaert buried
August 9, 1681 nephew Anthonij Jans de Molijn married Magdalena van Poelgeest
November 4, 1681 Wrote Letter 34 of 1681-11-04 (AB 66) to Robert Hooke
December 10, 1681 Philosophical Collections number 3 published in London; one letter by Leeuwenhoek
January 1, 1682 Visited by Cornelis Bontekoe
January 10, 1682 Philosophical Collections number 4 published in London; one letter by Leeuwenhoek
January 28, 1682 Received fees from new citizens in the name of the city's camerbewaarders and messengers
February 1, 1682 Philosophical Collections number 5 published in London; one letter by Leeuwenhoek
March 3, 1682 Wrote Letter 35 of 1682-03-03 (AB 67) to Robert Hooke
March 10, 1682 Robert Hooke wrote to Leeuwenhoek that his observations were well received by the Royal Society
March 16, 1682 Robert Hooke wrote to Leeuwenhoek that his observations of shellfish muscles were well received by the Royal Society and concurred with his own
April 1, 1682 Philosophical Collections number 7 published in London; one letter by Leeuwenhoek
April 4, 1682 Wrote Letter 36 of 1682-04-04 (AB 68) to Robert Hooke
July 28, 1682 Wrote letter of 1682-07-28 (AB 69) to Robert Hooke
November 19, 1682 Sold two bonds from the property of Willem Bolnes to help pay Catherina Bolnes' creditors
January 1, 1683 Visited by Marie-Anne Mancini, Duchess of Bouillon and others
January 22, 1683 Wrote Letter 37 of 1683-01-22 (AB 70) to Christopher Wren
February 8, 1683 Received assistant wine gauger for emergencies
February 16, 1683 Francis Aston wrote to Leeuwenhoek; invited him to investigate colors
March 17, 1683 Francis Aston wrote to Leeuwenhoek about new Royal Society officers
May 20, 1683 Wrote letter of 1683-05-20 (AB 71) to Anthonie Heinsius
July 16, 1683 Wrote Letter 38 of 1683-07-16 (AB 72) to Christopher Wren
July 22, 1683 Wrote letter of 1683-07-22 (AB 73) to Anthonie Heinsius
September 2, 1683 Wrote letter of 1683-09-02 (AB 74) to Anthonie Heinsius
September 10, 1683 Anthonie Heinsius wrote to Leeuwenhoek about recent observations of generation
September 16, 1683 Wrote letter of 1683-09-16 (AB 75) to Anthonie Heinsius
September 17, 1683 Wrote Letter 39 of 1683-09-17 (AB 76) to Francis Aston
September 30, 1683 Wrote letter of 1683-09-30 (AB 77) to Anthonie Heinsius
October 1, 1683 Francis Aston wrote to Leeuwenhoek about the translation of a Dutch phrase
October 14, 1683 Wrote letter of 1683-10-14 (AB 78) to Anthonie Heinsius
December 28, 1683 Wrote Letter 40 of 1683-12-28 (AB 79) to Francis Aston
January 1, 1684 Published Schobbens in de Mond (Scales in the Mouth), Letter 40
January 1, 1684 Published Eyerstok (Ovary), Letters 37, 39
January 1, 1684 Published Eyerstok (Ovary), Letter 37
January 1, 1684 Published Humor Cristallinus (Crystalline Humor), Letter 41
January 1, 1684 Daniel Gaesbeeck wrote to Leeuwenhoek about why he was publishing his letters
January 1, 1684 Published Onsigtbare Geschapene Waarheden (Invisible Creation Truths), Letters 32, 33
January 1, 1684 Published Onsigtbare Geschapene Waarheden (Invisible Creation Truths), Letters 32, 39
January 1, 1684 Published Onsigtbare Geschapene Waarheden (Invisible Creation Truths), Letters 32, 33, 39

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