The documented events in the life of Leeuwenhoek and his immediate family from his birth in 1632 to the auctioning of his microscopes in 1747 after his daughter's death.

Chronology of events: Antony

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.

December 23, 1717 Named again as neighbor in the disposition of Pieter van der Wilt's estate
January 1, 1718 Published Send-Brieven (Epistles), Letters I - XLVI
December 6, 1718 Named again as a neighbor in final sale of Pieter van der Wilt's property
January 1, 1719 Published Epistolae ad Societatem (Letters to the Society), Letters 108 - 146
January 1, 1719 Published Epistolae Physiologicae (Physiological Letters), Letters I - XLVI
June 26, 1719 Made will with daughter Maria
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
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)
August 25, 1723 Requested on his deathbed that his friend Johannes Hoogvliet translate his final two letters into Latin
August 26, 1723 Died in his Hippolytusbuurt home, 90 years old
August 31, 1723 Buried in Oude Kerk
September 4, 1723 Johannes Hoogvliet wrote Letter L-590 to James Jurin accompanying his Latin translation of Leeuwenhoek's last two letters
October 4, 1723 daughter Maria wrote Letter L-591 as a cover letter for the cabinet with 26 magnifying glasses to the Royal Society (AB 381)
January 1, 1730 Published Continuatio Epistolarum (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53-60 (4th)
August 7, 1732 Maria van Leeuwenhoek added codicil to 1721 will
November 14, 1739 Maria van Leeuwenhoek funded the Oude Kerk memorial for her father
June 24, 1741 Maria van Leeuwenhoek made a will charging the Kamer van Charitate with cleaning and maintaining the Oude Kerk memorial
June 26, 1745 Maria van Leeuwenhoek's estate inventoried
August 25, 1745 house on Hippolytusbuurt, het Gulden Hoofd, sold to great-nephew Dirk Haaxman
May 23, 1747 Andries Voorstad auctioned the books and instruments of a "Liefhebber"
May 29, 1747 Leeuwenhoek's magnifying glasses auctioned

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