Who determined the cell is the smallest entity that retains the properties of life?

The concept that the cell is the smallest unit of life was largely established by scientists Robert Hooke and Anton van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century. Hooke coined the term "cell" after observing cork under a microscope, while Leeuwenhoek's observations of living microorganisms provided further evidence of cellular life. This foundational idea was later solidified by the development of the cell theory in the 19th century, primarily formulated by Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, which stated that all living organisms are composed of cells.