Robert Thomas Cross (born 15 May 1850 in

Worstead Worstead is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Norfolk Non-metropolitan district, district of Norfolk, England. In the United Kingdom Census 2001, 2001 census the parish had a population of 862 in 365 households ...

, d. 1923) was a British

astrologer Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that propose that information about human affairs and terrestrial events may be discerned by studying the apparent positions ...

. Cross was one in a series of editors of '' Raphael's Ephemeris'', started by

Robert Cross Smith Robert Cross Smith (1795-1832) was an English astrologer, writing under the pseudonym of "Raphael". Smith was born in Bristol on March 19, 1795. He married in 1820 and moved to London, where he became interested in astrology. Together with G. ...

in 1827, who all took the pseudonym Raphael. Robert Thomas Cross is often confused with Robert Cross Smith due to the similarity in name and the identical pseudonym.

Life

Cross was originally named Frederick Robert Cross, but dropped the "Frederick". He began studying astrology quite young and by the age of twenty-five, already married with two sons, he was teaching astrology and accepting clients, and soon became the editor of ''

The Prophetic Messenger Robert Cross Smith (1795-1832) was an English astrologer, writing under the pseudonym of "Raphael". Smith was born in Bristol on March 19, 1795. He married in 1820 and moved to London, where he became interested in astrology. Together with G. ...

'', which he renamed to ''Raphael's Ephemeris''. In the 1870s he obtained the copyright to ''Raphael's Ephemeris'', which the Cross family then owned until 1985 when it was sold to W. Foulsham & Co, the publisher. In ''Raphael's Ephemeris'' for 1913 he wrote: "Nothing has prospered with me except astrology ... I have succeeded beyond my expectations...". In 1893, Cross's almanac sold 200,000 copies. His ''"Guide to Astrology"'', published in two volumes in 1877 and 1879 was widely used by astrologers for many years. In 1895 the Astrologer's Magazine quoted Cross for his support of the idea of forming an astrological society. On 14 January 1896

Alan Leo Alan Leo, born William Frederick Allan, (7 August 1860 – 30 August 1917) was an English astrologer, author, publisher, astrological data collector and theosophist. He is often referred to as "the father of modern astrology". His work stimula ...

founded a society with himself as the first president and Cross as vice-president. ''Raphael's Ephemeris'' continues to be published, with W. Foulsham & Company Limited. A followup book under the pseudonym Raphael titled ''The Key To Astrology'' was published in 1896.

References

External links

''A Description of the Faces and Degrees of the Zodiac as Given in the Ancient Authors, Being Applicable to Genethliacal and Horary Astrology''
by Raphael
''Raphael's Private Instructions in Genethliacal Astrology''
by Raphael (handwritten copy)
''The Book of Fate: Whereby All Questions May Be Answered Respecting the Present and Future''
by Raphael *''The Guide to Astrology'' by Raphae
Vol. IVol. II''Genethliacal Astrology''
by Raphael {{DEFAULTSORT:Cross, Robert Thomas English astrologers 19th-century astrologers 20th-century astrologers 1850 births 1923 deaths People from Worstead