Gerard van Swieten

Gerard van Swieten (May 7, 1700 - June 18, 1772) was an Austrian physician of Dutch origin.

Swieten was born at Leiden. He was a pupil of Hermann Boerhaave and in 1745 became the personal physician of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresia. In this position he implemented a transformation of the Austrian health service and medical university education. He founded a botanical garden, a chemical laboratory and introduced clinical instruction.

Swieten was the father of Gottfried van Swieten.

A genus of mahogany was named after him, Swietenia, by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin.