Lead: In the summer of 1674 a minor civil servant in Delft, Holland was boating on a freshwater lake near his home. The next day he was surprised to find a water sample he brought home was teeming with life. Intro. A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: Not a great deal is known of the early life of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, but by his mid-thirties he had a dry-goods business and held a position with the sheriff of his hometown of Delft. With this work he supported his family and a most unusual hobby. He ground lenses and used them to study tiny objects. Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [5.67 KB] Share