Statue of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in front of Croatian Academy in Zagreb. Josip Juraj Strossmayer (alt. Josip Juraj Štrosmajer) (Croatian pronunciation: jǒsip jûraj ʃtrǒsmajer; German: Joseph Georg Strossmayer; (4 February 1815 – 8 May 1905) was a Croatian politician, Roman Catholic bishop and benefactor.