The History of the Cell

Hooke's discovery of the Cell

Feb 7, 1665

In 1665 English Naturalist Robert Hooke observed cells in a thin slice of cork with an early compound microscope.

Life, on a microscopic level

Jun 17, 1674

Anton van Leeuwenhoek, was a Dutch tradesman and scientist who observed tiny living organisms in drops of pond water through his simple microscope. he is considered by many "the Father of Microbiology."

Plants are made of cells.

Jul 27, 1838

Matthias Schleiden, a German botanist concludes that all plants are made up of cells.

The cell is the building block of life

May 7, 1839

Theodor Schwann was a German Physiologist who concluded that all animals are made up of cells.

The cell theory

Oct 7, 1855

Rudolph Virchow proposes that all cells come from existing cells. completing the cell theory.