[edit] July 9, 2006

[edit] Robert Hooke

Hooke's microscope, from an engraving in Micrographia.

Robert Hooke, FRS (July 18, 1635 – March 3, 1703) was an English polymath who played an important role in the scientific revolution, through both experimental and theoretical work.

In 1660, he discovered Hooke's law of elasticity, which describes the linear variation of tension with extension in an elastic spring. In 1662, Hooke gained appointment as Curator of Experiments to the newly founded Royal Society, and took responsibility for experiments performed at its meetings.

In 1665 he published a book entitled Micrographia, which contained a number of microscopic and telescopic observations, and some original biology. Indeed, Hooke coined the biological term cell -- so called because his observations of plant cells reminded him of monks' cells which were called "cellula". The hand-crafted, leather and gold-tooled microscope Hooke used to make these observations for "Micrographia," is on display at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, DC.