William Lilly
A controversial stargazer whose almanacs predicted London's Great Fire, making him the most famous and feared astrologer of the English Civil War era.
1602–1681 (age 79)·English astrologer·Birthday: May 1
Biography
William Lilly, a farmer's son who arrived in London with little, mastered the obscure art of astrology and turned it into a potent form of mass media. In an age of political upheaval, plague, and fire, people craved certainty, and Lilly's annual almanacs, filled with prophecies and cryptic woodcuts, provided it—or at least, stoked the anxiety. He didn't just read stars for the wealthy; he wrote for the public, becoming a bestselling author and a genuine celebrity. His most infamous moment came with a 1651 illustration that was later interpreted as predicting the Great Fire of London in 1666, leading to his interrogation by Parliament. Though he moved in powerful circles, advising parliamentarians and royalists alike, he always maintained the air of a plain-speaking seer. Lilly professionalized English astrology, systematizing its practice and leaving a technical legacy that would influence occultists for centuries, securing his place as the defining astrological figure of his turbulent century.
#1 When William Was Born
The biggest hits of 1602
William's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1602Born
1607Started school
1615Became a teenager
1618Could drive
1620Could vote
1623Turned 21
1632Turned 30
1642Turned 40
1652Turned 50
1662Turned 60
1672Turned 70
1681Died at 79
Key Achievements
- Published the wildly popular annual 'Merlinus Anglicus' almanacs, which combined astrology, prophecy, and political commentary.
- Wrote 'Christian Astrology,' a massive and accessible textbook that became a foundational work for students of horary astrology in English.
- Was consulted as an astrologer by both sides during the English Civil War, including key parliamentary figures.
- His symbolic illustration in 'Monarchy or No Monarchy' (1651) was famously cited as a prediction of the Great Fire of London.
Did You Know?
He claimed to have learned astrology from a self-taught astrologer and magician named John Evans, who he said conjured spirits in a woodshed.
After the Restoration, he was granted a license to practice medicine by the Royal College of Physicians, despite having no formal training.
He served as a churchwarden in the parish of Walton-on-Thames later in life, a seemingly conventional role for a man of his notoriety.
The diarist Samuel Pepys was an avid reader of Lilly's almanacs and mentioned him several times in his famous diary.
“Astrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, held in high esteem of old, by the Wise and the Great.”
