Bij de driehonderdste verjaring van Robert Hooke's «Micrographia» (1665-1965). De opgang van de microscopie in Engeland in de tweede helft der 17de eeuw.

Abstract

SUMMARY: On the tricentenary of Robert Hooke's «Micrographia» (1665-1965). The rise of microscopy in England in the second part of the 17th century. For England, the birth of modern science took place precisely at the epoch during which that country went through one of the greatest political crises of its history. The author tried to sketch the difficult circumstances in which Hooke had to work, — his connexion with the Royal Society, — his contacts with the English constructors of microscopes, — the reason why, after the publication of «Micrographia» in 1665, he seriously re-engaged in his microscopical studies only in 1677-1678. He insists upon the fact that in reality Hooke was before all a mecanician, a mathematician and an astronomer, and that, as a «Surveyor and Architect», he completely dedicated six years of his so hard-working life to the rebuilding of London after the «Great Fire» of 1666.