Abraham Ortelius (also
Ortels,
Orthellius,
Wortels; 14 April 1527 – 28 June 1598) was a
Flemish cartographer and
geographer, conventionally recognized as the creator of the first
modern atlas, the
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World). He is also believed to be the first person to imagine that the continents were joined together before
drifting to their present positions.