The first cell was discovered and named by Robert Hooke in 1665. He observed thin slices of cork under a microscope and noticed small, box-like compartments that reminded him of the cells in a monastery. He referred to these compartments as "cells" because they resembled the small rooms, or "cells," occupied by monks.
Hooke's discovery was a significant step in the understanding of living organisms. It marked the beginning of cell theory, which states that all living things are made up of cells.
