John Gadbury (1627–1704) was an English astrologer, and a prolific writer of

almanac An almanac (also spelled ''almanack'' and ''almanach'') is an annual publication listing a set of current information about one or multiple subjects. It includes information like weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, tide tables, and othe ...

s and on other related topics. Initially a follower or disciple, and a defender in the 1650s, of

William Lilly William Lilly (9 June 1681) was a seventeenth century English astrologer. He is described as having been a genius at something "that modern mainstream opinion has since decided cannot be done at all" having developed his stature as the most imp ...

, he eventually turned against Lilly and denounced him in 1675 as fraudulent. His 1652 work ''Philastrogus Knavery Epitomized'' was a reply to ''Lillies Ape Whipt'' by the pseudonymous Philastrogus, defending Lilly,

Nicholas Culpeper Nicholas Culpeper (18 October 1616 – 10 January 1654) was an English botanist, herbalist, physician and astrologer.Patrick Curry: "Culpeper, Nicholas (1616–1654)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford, UK: OUP, 2004) His bo ...

and others. His father William was an estate worker for Sir John Curson of Waterperry House near Wheatley, Oxfordshire, who eloped with Frances, a daughter of the house, a year before John's birth. However, John Gadbury persuaded his grandfather Sir John to put him through Oxford, before his astrological training. He became a

High Tory In the United Kingdom and elsewhere, High Toryism is the old traditionalist conservatism which is in line with the Toryism originating in the 17th century. High Tories and their worldview are sometimes at odds with the modernising elements of the ...

and Catholic convert. He had a number of brushes with the authorities: imprisonment (wrongful) at the time of the Popish Plot and suspicion later of plotting against

William III of England William III (William Henry; ; 4 November 16508 March 1702), also widely known as William of Orange, was the sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic f ...

; also trouble for omitting

Guy Fawkes Day Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain, involving bonfires and fireworks displays. Its history begins with the e ...

from his almanacs. He feuded with fellow astrologer John Partridge, a supporter of the Whigs.

Notes

Sources

*''Concise Dictionary of National Biography''

External links

NAUTHICUM ASTROLOGICUM, JOHN GADBURY (PDF 22,2 MB)

The Doctrine of Nativites and Horary QUestions, JOHN GADBURY (PDF 41,2 MB)

The Nativity of Lewis the Fourteenth, JOHN GADBURY (PDF 32 MB)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gadbury, John 1627 births 1704 deaths English astrologers 17th-century astrologers English Roman Catholics 17th-century English politicians Converts to Roman Catholicism from Anglicanism English astrological writers

See also

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External links