Zeiss, Carl

Carl Zeiss (1816-1888) was both an inventor and industrialist. Zeiss was born in Germany and educated in medicine, but he soon showed an interest in microscopes. Eventually he started a company called Zeiss Optical Works in Jena, Germany, that built specialized lenses for research equipment. Along with his partner, Ernst Abbe (1840-1905), Zeiss helped set design standards for medical glass that still stand today. For the microscope, Zeiss invented the apochromatic lens, which improved its focus.