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
January 6, 1684 Authorized as curator to inspect estate of Willemtie Pieters Touw by her heir
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
July 27, 1684 Christiaan Huygens gossiped about Maria Duyst in a letter to his brother Constantijn Huygens
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
May 31, 1685 Maria Duyst van Voorhout married Frederik Adriaan van Reede van Renswoude
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
July 24, 1685 Anthonie Heinsius wrote to Leeuwenhoek about Robert Boyle's request for an examination of cochineal
August 10, 1685 Wrote letter of 1685-08-10 (AB 86) to Anthonie Heinsius
August 21, 1685 Anthonie Heinsius wrote to Leeuwenhoek about Robert Boyle's reaction to the letter about cochineal
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 17, 1685 Constantijn Huygens wrote to Leeuwenhoek about root trees
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"
March 12, 1686 Thomas Gale replied for the Royal Society about objections to an earlier letter
March 16, 1686 Antonio Magliabechi wrote to Leeuwenhoek, a "most courteous and agreeable letter"
April 2, 1686 Wrote Letter 49 of 1686-04-02 (AB 90) to Members of the Royal Society
April 14, 1686 Wrote letter of 1686-04-14 (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
November 5, 1686 Visited by Jacob Gronovius
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
April 5, 1687 Guarantor for Johan Francisco de Raet when he became a citizen of Delft
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
August 24, 1688 Wrote Letter 64 of 1688-08-24 (AB 109) to Members of the Royal Society
September 7, 1688 Wrote Letter 65 of 1688-09-07 (AB 110) to Members of the Royal Society
September 23, 1688 Wrote letter of 1688-09-23 (AB 111) to Melchisedec Thevenot
November 1, 1688 Published Den Waaragtigen Omloop des Bloeds (On the True Circulation of Blood), Letter 65
January 1, 1689 Published Tweede Vervolg der Brieven (Second Continuation of the Letters), Letters 61 - 67
January 1, 1689 Published Continuatio Epistolarum (Continuation of the Letters), Letters 53-60
January 12, 1689 Wrote Letter 66 of 1689-01-12 (AB 113) to Members of the Royal Society
January 12, 1689 Wrote letter of 1689-01-12 (AB 112) to Robert Boyle
March 6, 1689 Christiaan Huygens wrote to Leeuwenhoek about other places to see the circulation of blood
April 1, 1689 Did not write any letters between 1689 04-01 and 1691 09-18
April 1, 1689 Wrote Letter 67 of 1689-04-01 (AB 114) to Members of the Royal Society
April 13, 1689 Appointed guardian of the children of Jacob Bellart
May 27, 1689 Anthonie Heinsius became Grand Pensionary of the States of Holland
June 21, 1689 nephew Adriaan Johannes Swalmius baptized, witnessed by Antony and Cornelia
October 19, 1689 cousin Adriaen Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek married Eva Jacobs Overschie
March 6, 1690 Christiaan Huygens wrote to Leeuwenhoek about liquids in glass balls and Iceland crystal
April 3, 1690 cousin Maarten Lambrechts Leeuwenhoek married Margareta Pieters van Limburg
April 17, 1690 daughter Maria made a will
September 7, 1690 Bought the other part of the garden outside the walls of the city
January 1, 1691 Published Onsigtbare Verborgentheden (Invisible Mysteries), Letters 38, 42, 43 (2nd)
March 2, 1691 Gottfried Leibniz wrote to Christiaan Huygens praising Leeuwenhoek
September 11, 1691 William Stanley wrote to Leeuwenhoek that the members of the Royal Society "wish their services to be presented to me"
September 18, 1691 Wrote letter of 1691-09-18 (AB 115) to Antonio Magliabechi
November 27, 1691 Wrote Letter 68 of 1691-11-27 (AB 116) to Members of the Royal Society
December 2, 1691 mentor Cornelis 's Gravesande died
December 5, 1691 mentor Cornelis 's Gravesande buried
December 6, 1691 brother-in-law Jan Jacobs de Molijn buried
January 4, 1692 Wrote Letter 69 of 1692-01-04 (AB 117) to Members of the Royal Society
January 13, 1692 niece Geertruijt Jans de Molijn inherited property from her father Jan Jacobs
February 1, 1692 Wrote Letter 70 of 1692-02-01 (AB 118) to Members of the Royal Society
February 1, 1692 Robert Hooke called Leeuwenhoek the microscope's "single votary"
February 2, 1692 Richard Waller wrote to Leeuwenhoek about his recent observations and the structure of grass
March 7, 1692 Wrote Letter 71 of 1692-03-07 (AB 119) to Members of the Royal Society
March 19, 1692 Reimbursed for purchase of distilled water and wine
April 22, 1692 Wrote Letter 72 of 1692-04-22 (AB 120) to Richard Waller
June 24, 1692 Wrote Letter 73 of 1692-06-24 (AB 121) to Members of the Royal Society
July 22, 1692 Christiaan Huygens began second series of observations of microbes replicating and expanding on Leeuwenhoek's
August 12, 1692 Wrote Letter 74 of 1692-08-12 (AB 122) to Members of the Royal Society
September 16, 1692 Wrote Letter 75 of 1692-09-16 (AB 123) to Members of the Royal Society
September 23, 1692 Wrote letter of 1692-09-23 (AB 124) to Mary, Queen of Great Britain
October 20, 1692 Christiaan Huygens wrote to Leeuwenhoek about spontaneous generation and praised his work and diligence
November 29, 1692 cousin Sara Maertens Leeuwenhoek married Cornelis Luda
December 21, 1692 cousin Jacob Adriaens Leeuwenhoek (1692-1724) baptized
January 1, 1693 editor Richard Waller began publishing Leeuwenhoek again
March 25, 1693 Published Derde Vervolg der Brieven (Third Continuation of the Letters), Letters 68 - 75
April 4, 1693 Received an honorarium from the city for his books of letters
April 28, 1693 Richard Waller wrote to Leeuwenhoek about colors of feathers and univocal generation
May 23, 1693 De la Croze called Leeuwenhoek a "curious Observer of Nature"
July 1, 1693 Wrote letter of 1693-07-01 (AB 125) to Richard Waller
August 18, 1693 Pieter Rabus wrote to Leeuwenhoek praising his accomplishments and including a laudatory poem
August 24, 1693 George Garden wrote to Leeuwenhoek about the role of egg and ovaries in reproduction
September 18, 1693 Paul Durven appointed curator
September 26, 1693 cousin Sara Maertens Leeuwenhoek buried
October 15, 1693 Wrote Letter 76 of 1693-10-15 (AB 126) to Members of the Royal Society
October 27, 1693 Wrote letter of 1693-10-27 (AB 127) to Pieter Rabus
November 19, 1693 nephew Johannes Adriaans Swalmius buried
November 21, 1693 Appointed guardian of his dying wife Cornelia Swalmius
November 30, 1693 Hans Sloane was elected Secretary of the Royal Society and editor of Philosophical Transactions. He published 68 articles by Leeuwenhoek over the next twenty years.
December 5, 1693 Rented St. Agnieten Tooren from the city for 12 years
December 7, 1693 wife Cornelia Swalmius made a will
December 8, 1693 Wrote letter of 1693-12-08 (AB 128) to Richard Waller

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