Pieter Harting

Who was Pieter Harting?

Pieter Harting was a Dutch biologist and naturalist, born in Rotterdam. He made contributions in a number of scientific disciplines, and is remembered for his work in the fields of microscopy, hydrology, botany, and biostratigraphy.

In 1835 he obtained his medical degree from the University of Utrecht and spent the following years as a doctor in Oudewater. From 1841 he taught classes in medicine at the Athenaeum of Franeker, and two years later returned to the University of Utrecht, where he worked until retirement in 1875. At Utrecht he was a full professor of pharmacology and plant physiology, and later zoology. In 1856 he was appointed director of the zoological museum. He was a member of Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leiden. Harting was one of the first Dutch scholars to accept accept the theory of evolution and was important supporter of Charles Darwin. He died in Amersfoort on 3 December 1885.

Throughout his career he maintained an avid interest in the historical development of the microscope and in the manufacture of lenses. He is credited with making design improvements to the microscope, and was the author of a landmark book on microscopy that was translated into several languages, including German. At Utrecht he established a popular microscopy laboratory for students.