c. 1570-1619

Dutch optician who possibly invented the telescope. He is one of three spectacle-makers who claimed priority for the invention. It may be that the other two—Sacharias Jansen and Jacob Adriaenszoon (a.k.a. Jacob Metius)—realized they were in possession of the same device, though employing it for different purposes, when they learned of his claim. What is certain, though, is that the earliest mention of a telescope is in connection with Lippershay's 1608 patent application.