Vincent Wing
Encyclopedia
Vincent Wing was an English astrologer and astronomer, professionally a land surveyor.
, Rutland
, where he was born on 9 April 1619. The family was of Welsh origin. He acquired some self-taught knowledge of Latin, Greek, and mathematics, In 1648 he became known as joint author, with William Leybourn
, of Urania Practica. In the following year he published independently A Dreadful Prognostication, containing astrological predictions. His Harmonicon Coeleste appeared in 1651; his major work, entitled Astronomia Britannica, in 1652 (2nd ed. 1669). This was a complete system of astronomy on Copernican
principles, and included numerous tables; it followed Seth Ward
in formulating Kepler's second law. It was followed in 1656 by Astronomia Instaurata, and in 1665 by Examen Astronomiae Carolina, exposing the alleged errors of Thomas Street
, who promptly retaliated with 'a castigation of the envy and ignorance of Vincent Wing.'
Wing issued ephemerides for twenty years (1652–1671), the most accurate of the time according to John Flamsteed
, who maintained a correspondence with him. He also wrote for the Stationers' Company an almanac
styled Olympia Domata, the annual sale of which averaged 50,000 copies. The publication was continued by his descendants at irregular intervals until 1805.
Wing resided at North Luffenham, but occasionally came to London for learned company. He contracted consumption
, of which he died on 20 September 1668, aged 49. His friend and biographer John Gadbury
commended his wit. He became involved in controversis, and sides were taken in these disputes; Flamsteed speaks of Wing's 'sectaries.' A convinced astrologer, he edited in 1668 George Atwel's Defence of the Divine Art, drew the scheme of his own nativity published in Gadbury's Brief Relation, and is said to have made a correct forecast of his death. His will was dated a fortnight before. He was buried at North Luffenham. The Olympia Domata for 1670 was edited by his elder son, Vincent Wing; and the numbers for 1704 to 1727 by his nephew, John Wing of Pickworth
, Rutland, coroner of the county, who published in 1693 Heptarchia Mathematica, and in 1699 an enlarged version of his uncle's Art of Surveying, supplemented by Scientia Stellarum, Calculation of the Planets' Places, etc.
Life
He was the eldest son of Vincent Wing (1587–1660) of North LuffenhamNorth Luffenham
North Luffenham is a village in Rutland, in the East Midlands of England. It lies to the north of the River Chater, east of Uppingham and west of Stamford.Located to the north of the village is St George's Barracks, formerly RAF North Luffenham....
, Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, where he was born on 9 April 1619. The family was of Welsh origin. He acquired some self-taught knowledge of Latin, Greek, and mathematics, In 1648 he became known as joint author, with William Leybourn
William Leybourn
William Leybourn was an English mathematician and land surveyor.-Career as a printer:In 1651 Leybourn entered into a business partnership with Robert Leybourn as a printer and seller of books...
, of Urania Practica. In the following year he published independently A Dreadful Prognostication, containing astrological predictions. His Harmonicon Coeleste appeared in 1651; his major work, entitled Astronomia Britannica, in 1652 (2nd ed. 1669). This was a complete system of astronomy on Copernican
Copernican
Copernican means of or pertaining to the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus* For the Copernican system of astronomy, see heliocentrism* For the philosophical principle, see Copernican principle* For the lunar geological period, see Copernician...
principles, and included numerous tables; it followed Seth Ward
Seth Ward (bishop)
Seth Ward was an English mathematician, astronomer, and bishop.-Early life:He was born in Hertfordshire, and educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1636 and M.A. in 1640, becoming a Fellow in that year...
in formulating Kepler's second law. It was followed in 1656 by Astronomia Instaurata, and in 1665 by Examen Astronomiae Carolina, exposing the alleged errors of Thomas Street
Thomas Street
Thomas Street was an English astronomer. In 1661, he published Astronomia Carolina, a new theorie of Coelestial Motions. An Appendix to Astronomia Carolina followed in 1664....
, who promptly retaliated with 'a castigation of the envy and ignorance of Vincent Wing.'
Wing issued ephemerides for twenty years (1652–1671), the most accurate of the time according to John Flamsteed
John Flamsteed
Sir John Flamsteed FRS was an English astronomer and the first Astronomer Royal. He catalogued over 3000 stars.- Life :Flamsteed was born in Denby, Derbyshire, England, the only son of Stephen Flamsteed...
, who maintained a correspondence with him. He also wrote for the Stationers' Company an almanac
Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, and tide tables, containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar etc...
styled Olympia Domata, the annual sale of which averaged 50,000 copies. The publication was continued by his descendants at irregular intervals until 1805.
Wing resided at North Luffenham, but occasionally came to London for learned company. He contracted consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, of which he died on 20 September 1668, aged 49. His friend and biographer 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...
commended his wit. He became involved in controversis, and sides were taken in these disputes; Flamsteed speaks of Wing's 'sectaries.' A convinced astrologer, he edited in 1668 George Atwel's Defence of the Divine Art, drew the scheme of his own nativity published in Gadbury's Brief Relation, and is said to have made a correct forecast of his death. His will was dated a fortnight before. He was buried at North Luffenham. The Olympia Domata for 1670 was edited by his elder son, Vincent Wing; and the numbers for 1704 to 1727 by his nephew, John Wing of Pickworth
Pickworth, Rutland
Pickworth is a civil parish and small hamlet in the county of Rutland in a region characterised by Rutland County Council as the clay woodlands of the Rutland Plateau ....
, Rutland, coroner of the county, who published in 1693 Heptarchia Mathematica, and in 1699 an enlarged version of his uncle's Art of Surveying, supplemented by Scientia Stellarum, Calculation of the Planets' Places, etc.