Johann Daniel Mylius

Who was Johann Daniel Mylius?

Johann Daniel Mylius was a composer for the lute, and writer on alchemy. Born at Wetter in present-day Hesse, he went on to study theology and medicine at the University of Marburg. He was the brother-in-law and pupil of Johann Hartmann.

In 1616, while still a medical student, Mylius published Duncan Burnet's Iatrochymicus. The Opus medico-chymicum, Mylius' own alchemical work, was published two years later. He is known for the collection Thesaurus gratiarum of pieces for the lute. In the same year his Philosophia Reformata was published. Mylius was the personal physician of Moritz of Hessen and his patrons included Maurice and Frederick Henry of Nassau.