On 18 June 1772, the famous physician Gerard van Swieten died at Schönbrunn near Vienna.
The personal physician of Empress Maria Theresia, who came from Leiden, fundamentally reformed the study of medicine at the University of Vienna from 1749. By improving equipment and intensifying bedside teaching, he laid the foundation for a paradigm shift and the later international importance of the Vienna Medical School. However, his reforms also significantly served the centralization of university affairs and extensive state influence and control pushed by Maria Theresa. Following the example of the reforms in the area of the Faculty of Medicine, the other faculties were later also restructured and the university was transformed into a modern state educational institution.
