The History of the Microscope By caitlinbrown39 May 24, 1590 The first microscope was invented. May 24, 1675 Anton van Leeuwenhoek viewed bacteria under a microscope for the first time. May 24, 1830 Joseph Jackson Lister discovers that by using different lenses you can create clear magnification. May 24, 1903 Richard Zsigmondy invents the ultramicroscope. May 24, 1932 Transparent materials are studied for the first time. May 24, 1938 The electron microscope was developed. May 24, 1981 The specimen images possible with the invention of the scanning tunnel.