Anton van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch scientist born in 1632, known as the "Father of Microbiology." He is famous for his pioneering work in microscopy, using simple microscopes he crafted himself. His observations of tiny organisms, which he called "animalcules," laid the foundation for the field of microbiology. Leeuwenhoek's meticulous studies included bacteria, protozoa, and sperm cells, revealing a previously unseen world. His discoveries were significant in advancing scientific knowledge and understanding of life at a microscopic level, influencing later scientists like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in their research on germs and disease.