Johann VII of Mecklenburg (7 March 1558 - 22 March 1592) (sometimes called Johann V, and sometimes translated to John VII or John V) was a Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Johann was the son of Johann Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Schwerin (1525-1576), and his wife Duchess Anna Sophie of Prussia (1527-1591). He was eighteen years old when his father died. A regency was appointed that ruled in his name for the next nine years.
The regency handed over the actual rule of his territories to him in 1585. He immediately faced problems he was ill-equipped to deal with, including massive debt and his uncle Christoph's demands for territorial concessions. After an especially harsh argument with his uncle, he committed suicide.
Since suicides could not be buried in hallowed ground, a story was concocted which alleged that Johann had been killed by the devil as part of a pact with two women of Schwerin. The women were questioned: Katharina Wankelmuth, who died from the effects of torture, and Magdalena Rukitz, who was burned at the stake. Their condemnation as witches cleared the way for Johann's burial in Schwerin Cathedral.
Because his sons were four and two years old at his death, governance of his territories passed to another regency.
On 17 February 1588 Johann married Sofie of Holstein-Gottorp (1 June 1569 - 14 November 1634), daughter of Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and his wife Christine of Hesse. They had three children: