Sir George Wharton, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Wharton, 1st Baronet (4 April 1617 – 12 August 1681) was an English Royalist soldier and astrologer, also known as a poet.
. He went to Oxford to study, though not admitted to the University. He then returned to Westmorland, and in 1642 sold his family property, and raised his own troop of horse for the Royalist cause. He shared defeat at Stow-on-the-Wold
, in 1643. He is said to have served under Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading
.
He then went to Charles I
at Oxford, and was given a paymaster position in the Ordnance, under Sir John Heydon. At this period he became a friend of Elias Ashmole
, helping him to a military commission.
Wharton attended, with Ashmole, the first meeting in 1647 of the Society of Astrologers at Gresham College
. It included both William Lilly
and John Booker
, Parliamentarians who had been on the other side of the astrological pamphlet exchanges in the Civil War that had ended in 1646.
He was imprisoned in 1649, and might have been executed but his former opponent William Lilly spoke up for him with Bulstrode Whitelocke
. He was released by the intervention of Ashmole, who made him steward on his Berkshire estates.
At the English Restoration
of 1660, he was reinstated as a paymaster. He became Treasurer of the Ordnance
in 1670, an office he held until his death. He was made a baronet
in 1677.
As a royalist pamphleteer and newsbook editor, he wrote Mercurius Elencticus from 1647. Mocking Parliament, it carried biographical material on its leaders. When Wharton was imprisoned, it continued with help from Samuel Sheppard.
He attacked John Hall
, who wrote Mercurius Britanicus, employed by William Lilly whom Mercurius Elencticus lampooned. He also attacked John Booker
, another astrologer in the Parliamentarian camp.
His collected works were issued by John Gadbury
, in 1683.
Life
He was the son of a blacksmith in WestmorlandWestmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
. He went to Oxford to study, though not admitted to the University. He then returned to Westmorland, and in 1642 sold his family property, and raised his own troop of horse for the Royalist cause. He shared defeat at Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is situated on top of an 800 ft hill, at the convergence of a number of major roads through the Cotswolds, including the Fosse Way . The town was founded as a planned market place by Norman lords to take...
, in 1643. He is said to have served under Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading
Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading
Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading was a Royalist commander in the English Civil War.-Life:He came from an established Norfolk family, and was born at Melton Constable. His first experiences of war were at the age of 18 when he joined the Islands Voyage expedition in 1597 under the Earl of...
.
He then went to Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
at Oxford, and was given a paymaster position in the Ordnance, under Sir John Heydon. At this period he became a friend of Elias Ashmole
Elias Ashmole
Elias Ashmole was a celebrated English antiquary, politician, officer of arms, astrologer and student of alchemy. Ashmole supported the royalist side during the English Civil War, and at the restoration of Charles II he was rewarded with several lucrative offices.Ashmole was an antiquary with a...
, helping him to a military commission.
Wharton attended, with Ashmole, the first meeting in 1647 of the Society of Astrologers at Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
. It included both William Lilly
William Lilly
William Lilly , was an English astrologer famed during his time. Lilly was particularly adept at interpreting the astrological charts drawn up for horary questions, as this was his speciality....
and John Booker
John Booker
John Booker was an English astrologer, respected in that career for over 30 years. In the 1640s he was appointed licenser of mathematical publications, and so in effect a censor of astrological works, for the Stationers' Company.-Life:...
, Parliamentarians who had been on the other side of the astrological pamphlet exchanges in the Civil War that had ended in 1646.
He was imprisoned in 1649, and might have been executed but his former opponent William Lilly spoke up for him with Bulstrode Whitelocke
Bulstrode Whitelocke
Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke was an English lawyer, writer, parliamentarian and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England.- Biography :...
. He was released by the intervention of Ashmole, who made him steward on his Berkshire estates.
At the English Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
of 1660, he was reinstated as a paymaster. He became Treasurer of the Ordnance
Treasurer of the Ordnance
The Treasurer of the Ordnance was a subordinate of the Master-General of the Ordnance in the United Kingdom, the office being created in 1670. The office was abolished in 1836 and its duties merged with that of several others to form the office of Paymaster-General.-Treasurers of the Ordnance:*25...
in 1670, an office he held until his death. He was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1677.
Works
He took the pen name George Naworth, for his first almanac in 1641. He then issued an almost unbroken annual sequence, using his own name from 1645, not publishing in 1646, but expanding the work with history and continuing from 1647 to 1666.As a royalist pamphleteer and newsbook editor, he wrote Mercurius Elencticus from 1647. Mocking Parliament, it carried biographical material on its leaders. When Wharton was imprisoned, it continued with help from Samuel Sheppard.
He attacked John Hall
John Hall (poet)
John Hall was an English poet, essayist and pamphleteer of the Commonwealth period. After a short period of adulation at university, he became a writer in the Parliamentary cause and Hartlib Circle member.-Life:...
, who wrote Mercurius Britanicus, employed by William Lilly whom Mercurius Elencticus lampooned. He also attacked John Booker
John Booker
John Booker was an English astrologer, respected in that career for over 30 years. In the 1640s he was appointed licenser of mathematical publications, and so in effect a censor of astrological works, for the Stationers' Company.-Life:...
, another astrologer in the Parliamentarian camp.
His collected works were issued by John Gadbury
John Gadbury
John Gadbury was an English astrologer, and a prolific writer of almanacs and on other related topics. Initially a follower or disciple, and a defender in the 1650s, of William Lilly, he eventually turned against Lilly and denounced him in 1675 as fraudulent.His 1652 Philastrogus Knavery...
, in 1683.