Leonhard Thurneysser

While seeking a cure for his ailing wife, Elector John George of Brandenburg met Leonhard Thurneysser, a metallurgist and pharmaceutical doctor, who successfully cured his wife from her ailment. Grateful, the Elector appointed Thurneysser his personal doctor and took him to Berlin at a salary of 1352 Taler. The former Franciscan monastery was made available to Thurneysser and he led the construction of a glass studio at Grimnitz Castle. Thurneysser had served the Medical Professor John Huber as Famulus, helped to gather and prepare herbs and medicines. While he worked with Huber, Thurneysser had access to the writings of Paracelsus, which impressed him deeply. Thurneysser sold medicine of his own creation, astrological calendars, horoscopes and talismans for protection against evil and became very wealthy. His print shop produced writings in various scripts, including German, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic.