Lister discovered a method of combining lenses that greatly improved
image resolution by eliminating certain chromatic and spherical aberrations.
In 1830 he began grinding his own lenses, developing techniques that he
taught to optical instrument makers in London. Using his newly developed
lenses, Lister was the first to determine the true form of the red
corpuscle in mammalian blood. In recognition of his achievements, Lister
was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1832. He was the father of
the surgeon Joseph Lister.