Rob Hand
Catholic University of Virginia/Kepler College

John Partridge and his Influence on the Development of Modern Astrology

John Partridge was located in a pivotal point in the history of European astrology. He was the last major seventeenth century astrologer. Consequently his influence on subsequent astrology was enormous especially on a technical level. The techniques he chose to respect continued in use after his time. The methods he rejected fell into disuse largely up until the traditionalist revival of the late twentieth century. Among the methods he favored were those of Placidus de Titis which became standard until the early twentieth century. Among those he rejected were all surviving systems of time lords, profections and the extensive use of lots. When astrology began to revive in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Partridge was one of the chief astrologers that the new generation of astrologers, especially Raphael, turned to as a guide. In this way his influence on the development of nineteenth century as early twentieth century astrology may have been out of all proportion to his real talents as an astrologer.

Robert Hand has been a student of astrology since 1960 and a full-time professional astrologer since 1972. His books include Planets in Composite, Planets in Transit, Planets in Youth, Horoscope Symbols and Essays on Astrology, and a number of shorter works on traditional astrology.  He has been actively translating traditional astrological texts from Latin for several years in connection with his company ARHAT, and also has an active astrological consulting practice in the Washington DC area. He is also working on his PhD dissertation in medieval history at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, on the use of military astrology in late medieval Italy. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Kepler College.