John Cuff (optician)

[7] In 1745, the Swiss naturalist Abraham Trembley visited London and asked him to design a microscope that would make it easier to observe aquatic creatures as they were moving about.

[6] Under Baker's direction, Cuff designed and produced an improved "Double Microscope" that quickly supplanted the Culpeper type and became much sought-after not only in England but all over Europe.

[6][8] While superior to other microscopes of the time, optically it was no improvement,[9] and like them, it still "suffered from severe chromatic and spherical aberration.

[6] In 1757, Benjamin Martin opened a competing shop next door to Cuff's establishment on Fleet Street and drove him out of business the following year.

[6][8] According to the Royal Collection Trust, the German painter Johan Zoffany was commissioned by King George III, a purchaser of Cuff's microscopes, to depict him.