Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 599

ROBERT HOOKE (1635-1703) Micrographia: or, Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. Printed by J. Martyn and J. Allestry 1665 [36] 246 [10] pp., 38 plates (part fold.). 29.9 cm.

With the possible exception of Newton, Hooke was the greatest scientist of the seventeenth century. A mechanical genius, he was also a scientific investigator and theorist who made important and lasting contributions in such diverse fields as microscopy, acoustics, astronomy, optics, and cosmology. As a student at Oxford, he was introduced to Boyle (see No. 564 ff.) and, as Boyle's laboratory assistant, helped develop the Boylean air pump. In 1662 Hooke was appointed curator of experiments to the recently formed Royal Society. He was responsible for the presentation of experiments to the members at their regular meetings and he also collaborated with Boyle, Lower, Wren, and Willis in many experimental studies. After the devastating London fire in 1666, he was appointed city surveyor, designed several buildings, and became a wealthy man. Hooke later served as professor of geometry at Gresham College and was secretary to the Royal Society from 1677 to 1682. He was awarded the degree of doctor of physic in 1691 because of his broad experience and the contributions he had made to medical research. Unfortunately he possessed a disputatious nature and, especially in later years, was often involved in controversies over questions of priority in scientific ideas and discoveries. Among Hooke's many achievements were discovery of the law of elasticity, discovery of the phenomenon of diffraction and development of the wave theory of light to describe it, work toward measuring the force of gravity by using the motion of a pendulum, and a theory of planetary motion. His many inventions included the compound microscope, a spring for the balance of watches, a wheel barometer, the reflecting telescope, and the universal joint. The present work was commissioned by the Royal Society in 1665 and represented many of Hooke's original scientific observations for the Society. The book is wide-ranging and includes many diverse experiments and observations. Included are such studies as the crystal structure of snowflakes, experiments with light, discovery of the fifth star of Orion, and observations on the structure of hair. He discussed the possibility of manufacturing artificial fibers by a process similar to that of the silkworm and was the first to use the word "cell" to name the small pores and cavities in cork. The plates depict a wide variety of plants, seeds, moss, insects, cross sections of wood, cork, hair, and gravel from the human bladder. Among the more interesting are those depicting his microscope and cross sections of the cellular structure of cork. It is believed that the majority of the engraved plates were his own work and in some he was assisted by Wren. The clarity of line and extent of detail is ample evidence of his industry and artistry.

See Related Record(s): 564

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 262; Osler 3001 (2nd ed., 1667); Waller 10845; Wellcome III, p. 296

Gift of John Martin, M.D.