Antoni Chamberlain Of The City Hall - Wandeling Antoni
Chamberlain Of The City Hall In 1660, Van Leeuwenhoek was made the city hall’s ‘Chamberlain of the Chamber of the Lord Aldermen of Delft’.
Municipal privileges
Delft was granted municipal privileges by the Count of Holland in 1246. The current city hall dates from 1620. He was responsible for the maintenance of the council chamber and acted as a messenger during council meetings. Van Leeuwenhoek was also given several additional municipal roles that provided him with an income; in 1677, he was made ‘generaal wijkmeester’ (an inspector who oversaw the daily affairs of a district), and in 1679 he was made ‘wijnroeier’ (a gauger who determined the contents of wine barrels). From 1669, Van Leeuwenhoek was a chartered surveyor, a profession that he also practised.
An interest in science
Van Leeuwenhoek had shown a broad interest in astronomy, mathematics, physics and chemistry from a young age. He was by no means a full-time scientist, though. In letter no. 18 to the Royal Society in London, he wrote: “my ci…
Municipal privileges
Delft was granted municipal privileges by the Count of Holland in 1246. The current city hall dates from 1620. He was responsible for the maintenance of the council chamber and acted as a messenger during council meetings. Van Leeuwenhoek was also given several additional municipal roles that provided him with an income; in 1677, he was made ‘generaal wijkmeester’ (an inspector who oversaw the daily affairs of a district), and in 1679 he was made ‘wijnroeier’ (a gauger who determined the contents of wine barrels). From 1669, Van Leeuwenhoek was a chartered surveyor, a profession that he also practised.
An interest in science
Van Leeuwenhoek had shown a broad interest in astronomy, mathematics, physics and chemistry from a young age. He was by no means a full-time scientist, though. In letter no. 18 to the Royal Society in London, he wrote: “my circumstances do not permit it, and it is something that I have only pursued in my spare time.” He did his scientific work in his free time; the letter shows that he mainly made his observations in the mornings or late in the evenings. He was originally a cloth merchant by profession.