Chronology of events: 1654--1672

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
July 29, 1654 Married Barbara de Meij
October 6, 1654 Signed as brother-in-law of Maria de Meij when she bought a house on the Oosteinde
October 12, 1654 Delft Thunderclap: fire following explosion killed 1200 people and destroyed much of Delft
January 1, 1655 cousin Abraham's son Pieter Abrahams Hogenhouck (-1679) appointed magistrate
January 1, 1655 Paid his entry fee to the Sint Nicolaas Gilde
January 24, 1655 Jan Strick appointed camerbewaarder of the magistrate's chamber
February 2, 1655 wife Barbara de Meij revoked her pre-marital will
February 16, 1655 Bought the house and shop on the west side of the Hippolytusbuurt
March 17, 1655 sister Catharina Philips Leeuwenhoek (1637- after 1684) married Claes Jans van Leeuwen
April 25, 1655 nephew Jacob Jans de Molijn baptized
May 7, 1655 Made mortgage payment (first of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
May 11, 1655 Inherited property on Oosteinde from first wife Barbara de Meij's family
June 21, 1655 mentor Cornelis 's Gravesande graduated from medical school
September 15, 1655 son Philips Leeuwenhoek (first so named) baptized, buried six weeks later
January 11, 1656 Borrowed 600 gulden from his mother
March 20, 1656 cousin Cornelis Maertens Hogenhouck buried in Oude Kerk
June 18, 1656 nephew Anthonij Jans de Molijn (1656-1729) baptized, witnessed by Antony
September 24, 1656 daughter Maria Thonis Leeuwenhoek (1656-1745) baptized
November 10, 1656 cousin Maria Maertens Leeuwenhoek (1656-1717) baptized
November 12, 1656 Jan Strick borrowed 4,000 gulden from his mother-in-law Cornelia van den Berch
December 26, 1656 Jan Strick, camerbewaarder of the magistrates' chamber, received a raise of 19 guilders
February 8, 1657 cousin Russje Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek (1657-1746) baptized
May 8, 1657 Made mortgage payment (second of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
August 16, 1657 Named in Middelhoek estate inventory as owing 1800 gulden
December 31, 1657 Jan Strick, camerbewaarder of the magistrates' chamber, appointed manager of the city's Doele
February 26, 1658 mother Margrietke testified for a legal action by Johan Strick
February 27, 1658 mentor Dr. Cornelis 's Gravesande married Sara Ipelaer
May 8, 1658 Made mortgage payment (third of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
September 1, 1658 Registered as a member of the Hervormde Gemeente Delft (Reformed Church in Delft)
September 29, 1658 daughter Margriete Thonis Leeuwenhoek baptized, then buried a week later
May 30, 1659 Made mortgage payment (fourth of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
December 19, 1659 Issued receipts to two nephews for dry goods
January 24, 1660 Received payment from city for duties with magistrate's court
January 28, 1660 co-worker Daniel Bogaert married Annetge Willems van Schie
March 26, 1660 Appointed official of city magistrate's court
May 11, 1660 Made mortgage payment (fifth of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
September 14, 1660 Compensated by city for expenses building a loading dock in front of his house
October 17, 1660 cousin Jannitgen Huijchs Leeuwenhoek (1633-1681) married Lucas Pieters van Kessel
January 1, 1661 father-in-law Johannes Swalmius buried
January 17, 1661 cousin Cornelia Abrahams Swalmius made a will
January 23, 1661 niece Geertruijt Jans de Molijn (1661-1736) baptized, witnessed by Antony and Barbara
January 24, 1661 Official due date of his annual payment from the city for his duties with the magistrate's court
March 26, 1661 mentor Dr. Cornelis 's Gravesande appointed City anatomist
April 28, 1661 Recieved payment for his duties with the magistrates' court
May 11, 1661 Made mortgage payment (sixth of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
June 8, 1661 mentor Dr. Cornelis 's Gravesande married Agatha van Schagen
December 18, 1661 cousin Margrieta Maertens Leeuwenhoek baptized
December 30, 1661 Received a raise from the mayors for his duties with the magistrates' court
January 13, 1662 aunt Annetje Jacobs van den Berch died, leaving money to Antony
January 24, 1662 Official due date of his salary from the city for his duties with the magistrates' court
March 3, 1662 Made mortgage payment (seventh of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
April 19, 1662 Made mortgage payment (last of eight) on the Gulden Hoofd
July 2, 1662 cousin Adriaen Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek (1662-1739) baptized
October 23, 1662 Made will in which he and wife Barbara named each other universal heirs
October 29, 1662 cousin Petronella Johans Strick baptized, witnessed by Antony
January 1, 1663 Christiaen Anhaltin's School-Boeck van de Wyn-Royeryen published
January 25, 1663 son Philips Leeuwenhoek (second) baptized, buried three weeks later
April 25, 1663 brother-in-law Adriaan Johannes Swalmius (1631-1667) married Margrieta van der Burch
July 2, 1663 Christiaan Huygens elected member of the Royal Society
August 1, 1663 Christiaan Huygens received letter from Gutschoven about how to grind small lenses
January 1, 1664 cousin Maerten Huijchs Leeuwenhoek appointed tax farmer
February 19, 1664 cousin Sara Maertens Leeuwenhoek (1664-1693) baptized
May 11, 1664 nephew Johannes Adriaans Swalmius (1664-1693) baptized
June 25, 1664 Bought a garden outside the walls of the city
August 19, 1664 son Philips Leeuwenhoek (third) baptized
September 3, 1664 mother Margriete Jacobs van den Berch (1594-1664) buried in Oude Kerk
September 29, 1664 Owed for store goods by the estate of Elizabeth Cornelis
November 25, 1664 Received a legacy from the estate of great-aunt Aaltge Sebastiaans van den Berch
January 1, 1665 Robert Hooke's Micrographia published
March 26, 1665 Christiaan Huygens acquired Hooke's Micrographia
July 31, 1665 Appointed guardian of second cousin Maria van Halmael
January 1, 1666 mentor Reinier de Graaf (1641-1673) moved to Delft
May 28, 1666 cousin Elisabeth Maertens Leeuwenhoek (1666-1743) baptized
June 27, 1666 son Philips Leeuwenhoek (third) buried in Oude Kerk
July 14, 1666 wife Barbara de Meij buried in Oude Kerk
October 10, 1666 Appointed district supervisor (wijkmeester generaal)
January 1, 1667 Dirck van Bleyswyck's Beschryvinge der Stadt Delft, Description of the City of Delft, published
February 5, 1667 mentor Jacob Spoors married Trijntge Jans
March 11, 1667 Presented will after wife Barbara's death
May 2, 1667 brother-in-law Adriaan Johannes Swalmius (1631-1667) buried
May 18, 1667 Appointed curator of estate of Simon de Bourbon
July 15, 1667 Appeared before the Weescamer to begin the process of curating the estate of Simon de Bourbon
September 15, 1667 aunt Cornelia Jacobs van den Berch buried in Oude Kerk
January 1, 1668 Conducted an experiment with grapevines
January 1, 1668 Traveled to England
June 13, 1668 grandfather Thonis Phillips Leeuwenhoek's will of 1643 presented
November 14, 1668 Delivered to the Weescamer his first accounting as curator over the person and assets of Sijmon Bourbon
January 1, 1669 cousin Pieter Abrahams Hogenhouck (-1679) appointed mayor in 1669-1673, 1677
February 4, 1669 Certified as a surveyor after passing the oral examination
February 15, 1669 uncle Huijch Thonis Leeuwenhoek buried in Nieuwe Kerk
October 8, 1669 daughter Maria named in will of her aunt Maria de Meij
July 13, 1670 cousin Cornelis Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek (1670-1702) baptized
August 30, 1670 Signed a will as clerk and witness for notary Joris van der Houve
September 2, 1670 Appointed co-wine gauger to help Dirk Arisz.
November 28, 1670 Delivered to the Weescamer his second accounting as curator over the person and assets of Sijmon Bourbon
December 2, 1670 Signed a will as clerk and witness for notary Paul Durven
December 16, 1670 Delivered to the Weescamer the document disposing of the late Sijmon Bourbon's assets
January 8, 1671 Testified to marriage conditions with Cornelia Swalmius
January 17, 1671 daughter Maria made a will
January 25, 1671 Married Cornelia Johannes Swalmius
April 14, 1671 Agreed to act as steward for land inherited by second wife Cornelia
April 15, 1671 Signed a will as clerk and witness for notary Paul Durven
May 30, 1671 cousin Anthonij Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek (1653-1671) buried in Oude Kerk
October 15, 1671 wife Cornelia Johannes Swalmius made a will
January 10, 1672 sister-in-law Elisabeth Johannes Swalmius married Paulus Marcel
February 17, 1672 Jan Strick was buried
April 9, 1672 Disaster Year: Delft sent troops to help defend against the invading French army
June 12, 1672 mentor Reinier de Graaf married Maria van Dijck
June 29, 1672 Disaster Year: unemployed protestors from Schiedam occupied Delft city hall
July 8, 1672 Prince Willem III wrote to the burgemeesters of Delft that those not cooperating in repelling the enemy will be severely punished
September 10, 1672 Prince Willem III wrote to the burgemeesters of Delft concerning the naming of new regents
September 10, 1672 Disaster Year: half of the Veertigraad replaced with pro-Orangist regents
September 10, 1672 mentor Dr. Cornelis 's Gravesande appointed to Veertigraad
September 21, 1672 daughter Maria made a will
November 7, 1672 nephew Arnold Marcel (1672-1748) baptized in Dordrecht