A Protozoological Bicentenary: Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) and Louis Joblot (1645–1723)

Abstract

The present year, 1923, has already witnessed the celebration of more than one scientific centenary. From divers parts of the world men have gathered together to do homage to Louis Pasteur, who was born just over 100 years ago; to Edward Jenner, who died just 100 years ago; and to Christopher Wren, who died just 200 years ago. But probably only a few of those who joined in these public thanksgivings recalled that 1923 is also notable, in the history of science, for another reason. Exactly two centuries have now passed since the death of the first and greatest of all “microbiologists”—Antony van Leeuwenhoek, Father of Protozoology and Bacteriology, the man who discovered those “microbes” now called protozoa,'bacteria, and yeasts, which the illustrious Pasteur studied to such good purpose, and with which he laid, in part, the foundations of his scientific reputation: and it is exactly 200 years also since the death of another precursor of Pasteur—his countryman Louis Joblot, whose name is now almost forgotten, though it deserves to be remembered by all protozoologists.