Johann Friedrich Struensee

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Johann Friedrich Struensee
Posthumous portrait by Hans Hansen
Privy Councillor of Denmark
Predecessor	Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff
Successor	Ove Høegh-Guldberg
Born	(1737-08-05)5 August 1737 Halle an der Saale, Kingdom of Prussia
Died	28 April 1772(1772-04-28) (aged 34) Copenhagen, Kingdom of Denmark-Norway
Issue	Princess Louise Augusta of Denmark (avowedly)
Occupation	Physician

Lensgreve Johann Friedrich Struensee (5 August 1737 – 28 April 1772) was a German-Danish physician, philosopher and statesman. He became royal physician to the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark and a minister in the Danish government. He rose in power to a position of de facto regent of the country, and he tried to carry out widespread reforms. His affair with Queen Caroline Matilda ("Caroline Mathilde") caused a scandal, especially after the birth of a daughter, Princess Louise Augusta, and was the catalyst for the intrigues and power play that caused his downfall and dramatic death.