Jan Swammerdam

Jan or Johannes Swammerdam was a Dutch biologist and microscopist. His work on insects demonstrated that the various phases during the life of an insect—egg, larva, pupa, and adult—are different forms of the same animal. As part of his anatomical research, he carried out experiments on muscle contraction. In 1658, he was the first to observe and describe red blood cells. He was one of the first people to use the microscope in dissections, and his techniques remained useful for hundreds of years.

12 February 1637

Born on the same birth day (12 February): Al Cervi • Alice Roosevelt Longworth • Anneli Drecker • Chet Lemon • Christina Ricci • DeMarco Murray • Dominguinhos • Ehud Barak • Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué • Joseph Kearns • Josh Brolin • Josh Phegley • Kim Ji-min (actress) • Michel Martelly • Raymond Mhlaba • Roger J. Traynor • William Wetmore Story