Who discovered bacteria?

Antony von Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch tradesman who had many jobs, including linen-draper's apprentice and surveyor. Surprisingly, he was not a scientist by profession, and had not received any higher education. He did have a hobby for lenses and microscopes, and it was through his own self-built microscopes that he discovered microbes. He called these first microbes animalcules and noted in his writings that they were self-propelling. Leeuwenhouk is credited with discovering blood cells, sperm cells, bacteria, a number of protists, and nematodes. In addition to microorganisms, he was interested in examining the crystalline structures of minerals and fossils under his microscopes. He even looked at his own tongue through one of the hand-held lenses he created! Antony von Leeuwenhoek is widely regarded as the father of microbiology for his discoveries.