Johann Daniel Major

Johann Daniel Major (16 August 1634, Breslau – 26 July 1693, Stockholm) was a German professor of theoretical medicine, naturalist, collector and the founder of museology.

In 1666 he conducted the first public dissection of a human corpse now in Kiel.

Four years later in 1667 he was appointed supervisor of the botanic garden of the University of Kiel.

From 1673 to 1682 he devoted himself to also antiquities and natural history making large collections and from 1685 to 1692 founded the Museum of the Cimbrici conducting archaeological excavations and studying the regions fauna and flora.

Called to Sweden for the treatment of the queen he caught her infection and died.