Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Moore, Francis (1657-1715?)

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1333517Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 38 — Moore, Francis (1657-1715?)1894Gordon Goodwin

MOORE, FRANCIS (1657–1715?), astrologer and almanac-maker, born at Bridgnorth, Shropshire, on 29 Jan. 1656-7, is said to have acted for some time as assistant to John Partridge (1644-1715) [q. v.] (Gent. Mag. 1785, pt. i. p. 268), and to have then lived at the north corner of Calcot's Alley in Lambeth High Street. On obtaining a license to practise physic, he established himself in 1698 at the sign of 'Dr. Lilly's Head,' in Crown Court, near Cupid's Bridge, Lambeth, in the threefold capacity of physician, astrologer, and schoolmaster. To promote the sale of some wonderful pills of his own compounding, he published in 1699 an almanac entitled ' Kalendarium Ecclesiasticum: … a new Two-fold Kalendar,' 12mo, London. In this compilation the prophecies are confined to the weather. By 6 July 1700 Moore had completed the first of his famous 'Vox Stellarum; being an Almanack for … 1701,' 12mo, London, 1701, of which the 'Astrological Observations' form a prominent feature. Moore dedicated it to Sir Edward Acton, recorder of and M.P. for Bridgnorth. The almanac has been published ever since as 'Old Moore's Almanac,' and even now has a large sale. Its success gave rise to many imitations. In 1702 Moore was living 'near the Old Barge House,' in the parish of Christ-church, Southwark, where he probably died between July 1714 and July 1715; at any rate he was not responsible for the 'Vox Stellarum' issued in 1716. His almanac was continued respectively by Tycho Wing and Henry Andrews [q. v.] Moore's portrait was engraved 'ad vivum' by John Drapentier. It represents Moore as a fat-faced man, in a wig and large neck-cloth, and is now very rare.

[Notes and Queries, 1st ser. vols. iii. iv., 2nd ser. vols. iii. viii., 5th ser. vols. ix. x. xi., 6th ser. vol. i., 7th ser. vol. iii.; Noble's Continuation of Granger's Biog. Hist, of Engl. i. 235-6; Knight's London, iii. 246 (with an imaginary portrait); Bromley's Cat. of Engraved Portraits; Allen's Hist, of Lambeth, pp. 343, 345 n.]

G. G.