Short Answer:The compound microscope was invented 40 years before Anton van Leeuwenhoek was born.Anton van Leeuwenhoek invented a method for making small spherical lenses that much increased magnification of simple microscopes. He discovered single celled microorganisms and other microscopic structures. He advance the design of the simple microscope.More:Anton van Leeuwenhoek, (October 24, 1632 -- August 26, 1723) is known as "the Father of Microbiology". He was from Delft, Netherlands. He was not trained in science, but was originally a tradesman.The date is not know precisely, but around 1670, more than half a century after the discovery of the microscope, van Leeuwenhoek discovered a way to make small lenses of very high magnification that went significantly beyond the capability of exi