Robert Cross

Personal

Vocation

Notable

British astrologer who practiced under the pseudonym of Raphael to establish his reputation, the custom of his day. He was known as The Straggling Astrologer, alias The Astrologer of the Nineteenth Century, alias Merlinus Anglicus Junior (borrowed from William Lilly) alias Raphael (the first to carry that name). From a modest family background, he first worked as a builder's clerk, a carpenter before he became an astrologer. Cross published eight titles, apart from the almanac first founded in 1827 as The Prophetic Messenger and later bore his name as "Raphael's Almanac." His first book dealt with geomancy and came out in 1822. Cross married at 25 and was a noted astrological publicist. He did, however, have as much arrogance as other astrologers of his period, presenting data that was not substantiated by other than hearsay, where later, more careful evidence as to the accuracy of the data proved it inaccurate. Prior to his death, his interest focused on magic. After a long illness, he died 2/26/1832, 4:15 PM, London. Not to be confused with Robert Thomas Cross, a later publisher of Raphael's Ephemeris. Link to Wikipedia biography