Evolution of the microscope

This microscope, developed by John Cuff, magnified specimens up to 320 times their size. Cuff's microscope improved the mechanics of earlier models. (M-030 00294)

Henry Baker was a naturalist and a member of the British Royal Society. He made few scientific discoveries of his own but replicated observations made by others. Baker is noted for developing a system for teaching speech- and hearing-impaired students.

Naturalist Henry Baker used the Cuff microscope to examine many geological and biological materials. This drawing, taken from Employment for the Microscope (1784), shows microorganisms revived with water after being taken from a grain of blighted wheat.