Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777) was one of the most famous and important men of the eighteenth century. His achievements make him comparable with Lessing and Newton. In Blumenbach's opinion he was one of the enlightenment's greatest thinkers in both versatility and depth. He contributed significantly to developments in medicine, physiology, botany, pharmacology, theology, literature, editing, chronicles, biography, geography, and during his later years in Switzerland jurisprudence and agrarian reform. On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birth, important scientific landmarks in his life are described, with special attention to his achievements in the fields of anatomy, physiology, surgery, and experimental research.