This is another pathetic stab in the dark, but could it be Hooke?
I'm sorry, no idea what his first name was but I think he is somewhat associated with the invention of microscope although he didn't invent it, but he did a lot of stuff, if I remember well he made first drawings of cells and compound eyes, was the leader of Royal society before Newton, who despised him.
But I still might be actually completely wrong about anything I mentioned here.

Edit: It just occurred to me that he must have died quite some time before Newton, which would be way before 250 years ago, so please excuse my profound retardedness.