Chronology of events: 1720--1723

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
April 8, 1720 cousin Magdaleentje (Helena) Maertens Leeuwenhoek buried
April 29, 1720 Received payment from the city for inspector / wine gauger duties
August 3, 1720 Anthonie Heinsius died
December 30, 1720 cousin Maarten Pieters Hogenhouck buried
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
December 19, 1721 grand-nephew Jan Cornelis Haaxman buried
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)
February 22, 1722 James Jurin wrote to Leeuwenhoek summarizing and praising his life's work
May 15, 1722 Received payment from the city for inspector / wine gauger duties
May 15, 1722 James Jurin wrote to Leeuwenhoek asking him to send Latin translations of his letters
July 13, 1722 Received payment from the city for inspector / wine gauger duties
December 24, 1722 James Jurin wrote to Leeuwenhoek about how to measure his microscopic observations
June 25, 1723 James Jurin wrote to Leeuwenhoek about blood globules and generation
July 15, 1723 Visited by Matthew Raper
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 27, 1723 Delft newspaper published notice of Leeuwenhoek's death
August 30, 1723 pastor Petrus Gribius wrote to James Jurin of the Royal Society announcing Leeuwenhoek's death
August 31, 1723 Buried in Oude Kerk
September 4, 1723 Replaced as wine gauger by Lambert the Greek
October 1, 1723 James Jurin wrote to Peter Gribius about Leeuwenhoek's death
October 4, 1723 pastor Petrus Gribius wrote to James Jurin of the Royal Society about Leeuwenhoek's methods
October 4, 1723 daughter Maria sent cabinet with 26 magnifying glasses to the Royal Society
November 2, 1723 translator John Chamberlayne died
November 7, 1723 Abraham Eden presented cabinet with 26 magnifying glasses to the Royal Society; Isaac Newton wrote a receipt
November 18, 1723 James Jurin wrote to Maria van Leeuwenhoek thanking her for sending the cabinet with 26 magnifying glasses
November 18, 1723 James Jurin wrote to Arnoud van den Berch about the box of microscopes
December 17, 1723 James Jurin wrote to Peter Gribius in thanks for the cabinet full of "precious treasures"