Nathaniel Torporley

Nathaniel Torporley (1564 to 1632) was an English clergyman, mathematician and astrologer, born in Shropshire. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1581, took his bachelor's degree in 1584 and his master's at Brasenose College in 1591, and was rector of Salwarpe in Worcestershire from 1608 to 1622, living chiefly at Sion College in London. He knew Thomas Harriot, learned mathematics and astronomy, and was supported for several years by an annual pension from Henry Percy, the Earl of Northumberland. In 1605, just after the Gunpowder Plot, he was examined by the council for having cast the king's horoscope. He spent two years or more in France as secretary to Francois Viete, against whom he later published a pamphlet under the name Poulterey. His book Diclides Coelometricae of 1602 sets out astronomical tables. He bequeathed his mathematical books, instruments, notes, maps and a brass clock to the library of Sion College.