Robert Hooke, an English scientist, discovered cells in 1665. Hooke made this groundbreaking finding while viewing cork slices via a compound microscope he constructed.He observed a multitude of tiny compartments within the cork material, resembling small, box-like structures. These compartments reminded Hooke of the cells inhabited by monks in monasteries, hence he coined the term “cell” to describe them.
Hooke’s observations were documented in his book “Micrographia,” which included extensive illustrations and descriptions of the structures he observed.His discovery marked the beginning of modern cell biology and laid the foundation for the development of cell theory, which became one of the fundamental principles of biology.