The Flemish cartographer, geographer and antiquary, Abraham Ortelius, was born in Antwerp in April 1527. Little is known of his early education but it is believed his father taught him Latin and he may have taught himself mathematics. In 1547 Ortelius was admitted to Antwerp's Guild of Saint Luke as an illuminator of maps. He also began trading in books, prints and maps. In 1564 he published his first map, a wall map of the world. This was followed by numerous single maps before, in 1570, he published his 'Theatrum orbis terrarum', considered to be the first modern atlas. He was appointed 'his majesty's geographer' by Philip II in 1573. Ortelius died in Antwerp on 28 June 1598 and was buried in the church of St. Michael in Antwerp.