Carl Zeiss (September 11, 1816 – December 3, 1888) was a German scientific instrument maker, optician and businessman. In 1846 he founded his workshop, which is still in business as Zeiss.
Zeiss gathered a group of gifted opticians and glass makers to reshape most aspects of world optical instrument production.
His collaboration with Ernst Abbe revolutionized the optical theory and practical design of microscopes. Their quest to extend these advances brought Otto Schott into the enterprises to revolutionize optical glass manufacture.
The firm of Carl Zeiss grew to become one of the largest and most respected optical firms in the world.