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The title of the father of microscopy is most appropriately attributed to Anton van Leeuwenhoek. He was the first person to construct a microscope capable of significant magnification, allowing him to observe microorganisms that had previously gone unnoticed. His meticulous observations of various biological specimens, including bacteria and protozoa, marked a pivotal moment in scientific history, leading to the development of microbiology as a field. Van Leeuwenhoek’s discoveries expanded the understanding of the microscopic world and laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements in both microscopy and biology.

While Robert Hooke also made important contributions to microscopy by coining the term "cell" after observing cork under a microscope, it was van Leeuwenhoek's advancements in lens crafting and his systematic approach to observing living organisms that earned him the title. Galileo Galilei's contributions were more focused on astronomy and the improvement of telescopes rather than microscopy. Louis Pasteur, although a significant figure in microbiology and known for his work on germ theory, came after van Leeuwenhoek and did not have a direct role in the inception of microscopy itself. Thus, van Leeuwenhoek’s pioneering work is what establishes him as the father of microscopy.