Chronology of events: 1679--1686

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
May 31, 1684 The Royal Society discussed Leeuwenhoek's observations in Letter L-147 about the crystalline humour of the eye
June 7, 1684 Francis Aston wrote Letter L-148 to Leeuwenhoek to thank him for his letter with observations of the lens of the eye, which was read to the Royal Society and was well-received by them
June 14, 1684 The Royal Society read the latter part of Letter L-147 about the crystalline humour of bird and fish eyes, the vitreous humour, the cornea tunica, and the colour of a Blackamore
June 15, 1684 Visited Christiaan Huygens in Den Haag with the Durven brothers
July 24, 1684 Daniel van Gaesbeeck wrote Letter L-149 about why he was publishing more of Leeuwenhoek's “mutilated”, “mistranslated”, and “misunderstood” letters
July 25, 1684 Wrote Letter L-150 of 1684-07-25 to Members of the Royal Society about parts of the brain of several animals, chalk stones of gout, leprosy, and the scales of eels
July 27, 1684 Christiaan Huygens gossiped about Maria Duyst in a letter to his brother Constantijn Huygens
September 15, 1684 Francis Aston wrote Letter L-151 to Leeuwenhoek that Letter L-150 had not been read by the Royal Society
December 13, 1684 sister Catharina Philips Leeuwenhoek received legacy from great uncle Johan Sebastiaans van den Berch
December 13, 1684 The Royal Society read the first part of Letter L-150 about the brain of several animals, chalk stones of gout, leprosy, and scales of eels
December 20, 1684 cousin Geertruijt Huijchs Leeuwenhoek buried
January 1, 1685 cousin Maerten Huijchs Leeuwenhoek appointed tax farmer
January 1, 1685 Published Anatomia et Contemplatio (Anatomy and Contemplation), Letters 43, 42, 38 (L-128, L-150, L-152)
January 1, 1685 Published Onsigtbare Verborgentheden (Invisible Mysteries), Letters 38, 42, 43 (L-152, L-150, L-128)
January 1, 1685 Published Sout-figuren (Salt figures), Letters 44, 45 (L-154, L-157)
January 1, 1685 Published Zaden van Boomen (Seeds of Trees), Letters 46, 47 (L-160, L-166)
January 5, 1685 Wrote Letter L-152 of 1685-01-05 to Members of the Royal Society about salts in wine and vinegar and in the stomach, the eye, the need for food and water, Descartes's theory on smallest water particles, and a theory of taste - salt, sour and sweet
January 17, 1685 The Royal Society read the latter part of Letter L-150 about the brain of an ox and a sparrow, moxa, chalk from gout, leprosy, and eels, in which he discovered both scales and fins
January 20, 1685 Francis Aston wrote Letter L-153 to inform Leeuwenhoek that his recent letter about wine was favorably received at the Royal Society
January 23, 1685 Wrote Letter L-154 of 1685-01-23 to Members of the Royal Society about salts and their crystals and his theory about the causes of taste
January 31, 1685 The Royal Society read the former part of Letter L-152 about salts in vinegar and wine, vinegar eels, and salts found in vinegar mixed with crabs eyes and chalk
February 5, 1685 Visited by Thomas Molyneux on behalf of the Royal Society
February 7, 1685 The Royal Society read and discussed the latter part of Letter L-152 salt in various wines, mixtures of tartar, crabs eyes, or chalk with wine, and the difference between salts in wines and salts in chalk stones of gout
February 13, 1685 Thomas Molyneaux wrote Letter L-155 of 1685-02-13 to Francis Aston about his visit to Leeuwenhoek's house
February 19, 1685 Francis Aston wrote Letter L-156 to inform Leeuwenhoek that his Letter L-154 about salts was received but had not been read to the Society
February 23, 1685 At age 52, his 25th article in Philosophical Transactions
March 30, 1685 Wrote Letter L-157 of 1685-03-30 to Members of the Royal Society about sperm, the uterus of a bitch, sheep embryos, ovaries in young animals and apples, and his claims that sperm are the life-carriers and that there are male and female sperm
April 4, 1685 The Royal Society read the former part of Letter L-154 about salts in wormwood, alum, and other substances
April 20, 1685 At age 52, his 25th letter in Philosophical Transactions
May 9, 1685 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-154 about oil of tartar, potash, and camphor
May 16, 1685 The Royal Society read the latter part of Letter L-154 about salts in ashes, lime, soda, and sal armoniac
May 28, 1685 The Dublin Philosophical Society asked the Royal Society for a copy of Letter L-154 about salts of wine and vinegar
May 31, 1685 Maria Duyst van Voorhout married Frederik Adriaan van Reede van Renswoude
June 20, 1685 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-157 about the role of eggs and male sperm in a female dog
June 22, 1685 Visited by John Locke
June 27, 1685 Francis Aston wrote Letter L-158 of 1685-06-27 to pass along the recommendation by John Hoskyns that Leeuwenhoek examine silkworm eggs
June 27, 1685 The Royal Society read the latter part of Letter L-157 about sperm and eggs in sheep and rabbits
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 L-159 of 1685-07-13 to members of the Royal Society about reproduction of trees, transfer of nutrients, male and female trees, hazelnut, comparing reproduction of mammals with reproduction of plants, cross-breeding, and germination
July 22, 1685 Royal Society published Letter L-154, titled, “An abstract of a letter from Mr. Leewenheock, to the R. S. Dated Jan. 23rd, 1685; concerning the various figures of the salts contained in several substances”
August 3, 1685 Anthonie Heinsius wrote Letter L-160 to Leeuwenhoek about Robert Boyle's reaction to the letter about cochineal
August 9, 1685 Francis Aston wrote Letter L-161 of some time between August and October 1685 to inform Leeuwenhoek that Letter L-159 had been received but not yet read
August 10, 1685 Wrote Letter L-162 of 1685-08-10 to Anthonie Heinsius about cochineal
August 27, 1685 editor Edmond Halley did not publish any letters by Leeuwenhoek in Philosophical Transactions from 1685 to 1693
August 31, 1685 Anthonie Heinsius wrote Letter L-163 of 1685-08-31 about Boyle's idea about the origin of cochineal
September 21, 1685 Wrote Letter L-164 of 1685-09-21 to Anthonie Heinsius about cochineal
October 1, 1685 Visited by Karl von Hessen-Kassel and Willem Meester sometime in October
October 2, 1685 Karel von Hessen-Kassel wrote Letter L-165 to thank Leeuwenhoek for the visit to his house
October 12, 1685 Wrote Letter L-166 of 1685-10-12 to members of the Royal Society about the beginning of plants in seeds; chyle, sweat, about skin, optic nerve, and bile of fish; salts in beer vinegar and lemon juice; and spirits mixed with blood and wine vinegar
November 5, 1685 Constantijn Huygens Jr. wrote to his brother Christiaan about Leeuwenhoek's character and the visit by Hessen-Kassel and Meester
November 14, 1685 The Royal Society read and discussed Letter L-159 about reproduction of trees, comparison of reproduction of mammals with the reproduction of plants, and cross-breeding
December 1, 1685 Visited by De Saingermain, who later called Leeuwenhoek a "Magus"
December 17, 1685 Constantijn Huygens wrote Letter L-167 to Leeuwenhoek about root trees
December 19, 1685 Francis Aston and Tancred Robinson abruptly resigned as the secretaries of the Royal Society, just a week after they had been reelected
December 25, 1685 cousin Elisabeth Maertens Leeuwenhoek married Dirck van Schie
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 1, 1686 Sat for his oil portrait by artist Johannes Verkolje (1650-1693)
January 22, 1686 Wrote Letter L-168 of 1686-01-22 to members of the Royal Society about cinnabar naturalis, gunpowder, saltpeter, and air made by gunpowder and crab's eyes
January 23, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-166 about embryo plants in cotton seeds
February 6, 1686 The Royal Society elected Edmond Halley as clerk
March 12, 1686 Edmond Halley wrote Letter L-170, known only by reference in Letter L-176
March 12, 1686 Thomas Gale wrote Letter L-169 to Leeuwenhoek reviewing his recent "ingenious and curious communications"
March 13, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-166 about chyle, sweat, pores of the skin, the crystalline humour of the eye, and the optic nerve
March 15, 1686 A Prussian doctor wrote Letter L-171 of sometime after 1686-03-15 to request a visit, enclosing pieces of amber
March 16, 1686 Antonio Magliabechi wrote Letter L-172 to Leeuwenhoek, a "most courteous and agreeable letter"
March 20, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-166 about gall and the scales and slime of fish
March 27, 1686 The Royal Society ordered that the unread part of Letter L-166 be read at the next meeting
April 2, 1686 Wrote Letter L-173 of 1686-04-02 to members of the Royal Society about the structure of bone, the bark of trees, skin and scales, the moisture evaporating from his body, and a little peeling piece of skin
April 3, 1686 The Royal Society asked Francis Lodwick to translate Letter L-168 about cinnebar and gunpowder
April 10, 1686 The Royal Society read and discussed Letter L-168 about cinnebar and gunpowder
April 14, 1686 Wrote letter L-174 of 1686-04-14 to Antonio Magliabechi, now lost
April 24, 1686 The Royal Society ordered that Letter L-173 be translated
May 1, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-168 about the particles composing cinnabar
May 8, 1686 The Royal Society read another part of Letter L-168 about gunpowder explosions and cannon lengths
May 14, 1686 Wrote Letter L-175 of 1686-05-14 to members of the Royal Society about gall-nuts found on oak trees and the germination of plants
May 22, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-173 about the structure of cotton seed, the sweat glands of the skin, and the slime of fish
May 25, 1686 Edmond Halley wrote Letter L-176 to Leeuwenhoek about a gift from the Royal Society and requesting some portraits
May 29, 1686 The Royal Society decided to send a gift to Leeuwenhoek, De Historia Piscium by Francis Willughby
June 5, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-173 about bone and wood
June 8, 1686 Bought a burial section in the Oude Kerk
June 10, 1686 Wrote Letter L-177 of 1686-06-10 to members of the Royal Society about seeds of cotton, kapok, Bupariti, and coconuts, the reproduction of shrimp and lobster, and the eggs of shell fish
June 26, 1686 The Royal Society officers declared their satisfaction with the election of Edmond Halley
July 10, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-177 about how the leaves, root, and stem are wrapped up with the seeds
July 10, 1686 Wrote Letter L-178 of 1686-07-10 to members of the Royal Society about the growth and durability of wood felled in different seasons and countries, the annual growth rings, and how wooden barrels can be made watertight
July 11, 1686 Jacob Gronovius wrote Letter L-179 to Leeuwenhoek about how his letters were received in Italy
July 17, 1686 The Royal Society ordered that Letter L-178 about the texture of oakwood be translated
September 7, 1686 Examined silkworm eggs
September 10, 1686 Wrote Letter L-180 of 1686-09-10 to Daniël Papenbroek, a cover letter for Letter L-181
September 10, 1686 Wrote Letter L-181 of 1686-09-10 to Antonio Magliabechi, a cover letter for a copy of one of his books
October 30, 1686 Wrote Letter L-182 of 1686-10-30 to Antonio Magliabechi, a cover letter for copies of two of his books
November 5, 1686 Visited by Jacob Gronovius
December 1, 1686 Edmond Halley wrote Letter L-183 to Leeuwenhoek on behalf of the Royal Society, now lost

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