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Vincent Wing (1619–1668) was an English astrologer and astronomer, professionally a land surveyor. ==Life and publications== Vincent Wing was born at North Luffenham, Rutland on 9 April 1619.〔See B.S. Capp, 'Wing, Vincent (1619–1668)' in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'': replacing and correcting Agnes Mary Clerke, 'Wing, Vincent', in ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (1885–1900), Vol. 62, pp. 179–80.〕 The eldest of four sons of Vincent Wing (1587–1660) (who was taking astronomical observations during the 1620s〔V. Wing, ''Astronomia Britannica'' (1669), p. 288, refers to an observation of Jupiter on 25 April 1627.〕), his family had been established in the village since at least his grandfather's time, but is thought to have had Welsh antecedents. Wing did not receive a university education, but by assiduous study acquired his working knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Mathematics. With these skills he followed his calling as a surveyor, and invented or developed the use of the forty-link two-pole chain for measuring tracts of land in rods or poles, a method which he explained and advocated in his published works. While so engaged, two of his younger brothers, Solomon (1621) and Samuel (1626), married during the earlier 1640s and began their families, but the first of Vincent's children by his wife Alice to be christened at North Luffenham was Elizabeth, in November 1652.〔 Philip Gretton Dennis, Ed., ''The Registers of North Luffenham, in the County of Rutland, 1572–1812'' Parish Register Society (IV) (London 1896), ''sub anno''.〕 During this time Wing collaborated with William Leybourn (1626–1716), and dated the preface to their jointly-authored work ''Urania Practica'', (published in 1649) from North Luffenham in 1648.〔Vincent Wing and Will. Leybourn, ''Urania Practica, or, Practical Astronomy : in VI parts, Containing, I. An explanation of the vulgar notes used every year, with the order how to finde them for ever, in the Julian and Gregorian accompts, both arithmatically, and by new invented tables, II. An ephemeris for 19 years, beginning anno 1648, and ending anno 1667, with astronomical rules and tables ..., III. An astrologicall treatise ..., IV. The doctrine of the sphear or globe, V. An abreviate of geographie, representing the surface of the world and the provinces thereof ..., VI. Diverse astronomicall tables of the altitude, azimuth, amplitude, rising, culminating, setting, declination, of the sun and fixed stars ..., Unto which is added (for the benefit of sea-men) diverse rules and tables of extraordinary use in navigation'' (Printed by R. Leybourn, London 1649). (in English)〕 Containing over 300 pages, this was the first substantial compendium of astronomy written in the English language.〔Sarah Bendall, "Leybourn, William", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''.〕 It was the commencement of important authorial careers in surveying and astronomy for both men. In the following year Wing published independently ''A Dreadful Prognostication'', containing astrological predictions.〔Vincent Wing, ''A Dreadfull Prognostication, : or an astrologicall prediction of severall contingencies incident to all Europe, drawn from the effects of severall celestiall configurations: but chiefly from the eclipse of the Moon November 20. 1648. the solar eclipse and the two great lunar eclipses 1649. All which are exactly described, and astrologically handled.'' (Printed by T.D., in the yeare 1649)〕 However several of Wing's later publications were made through the press of Robert Leybourn, who went into partnership with William Leybourn in 1651. The first of these, Wing's ''Harmonicon Cœleste'', appeared in 1651〔Vincent Wing, ''Harmonicon Cœleste: Or, The Cœlestiall Harmony of the Visible World: conteining an absolute and entire piece of astronomie: wherein is succinctly handled the trigonometricall part, generally propounded, and particularly applyed in all questions tending to the diurnall motion: especially respecting, and truly subservient to the main doctrine of the second motions of the luminaries and the other planets : together with their affections as eclipses, &c. Grounded upon the most rationall hypothesis yet constituted, and compared with the best observations that are extant: especially those of Tycho Brahe... : fitted to the meridian of ... London, and principally intended for our English nation. By Vincent Wing, philomathemat.'' (London : Printed by Robert Leybourn for the Company of Stationers, 1651).〕 at a time when Wing was in correspondence with William Lilly:〔See a letter from North Luffenham referring to the publication (here )〕 a surviving copy of the book from the library of Sir Isaac Newton was carefully annotated by its owner.〔Columbia University Collections, (Rare Book and Manuscript Library ).〕 In this work Wing had made a transition towards more modern astronomical conceptions.〔See, e.g., Robert S. Westman, ''The Copernican Question: Prognostication, Skepticism, and Celestial Order'' (University of California Press, 2011), (pp. 503–04 ).〕 At the Leybourn press William Leybourn produced his own first enduring and substantial work, ''The Compleat Surveyor'', in 1653:〔''The Compleat Surveyor: Containing The whole Art of Surveying of Land, By The Plain Table, Theodolyte, Circumferentor and Peractor:...'' (etc) (Printed by R. & W. Leybourn, for E. Brewster and G. Sawbridge, and are to be sold at the signe of the Bible upon Ludgate hill, neer Fleet-Bridge. 1653).〕 the association with Wing persisted until Wing's death. Wing's next major work, his ''Astronomia Instaurata'', appeared in 1656.〔Vincent Wing, ''Astronomia Instaurata: or, A new compendious Restauration of Astronomie. In four parts. Wherein is contained, 1. Logistica astronomica: . 2. Doctrina sphaerica: . 3. Doctrina theorica: . 4. Tabulae astronomicae: Whereunto is added, a short catalogue of all the most accurate and remarkable coelestiall observations, that have been made by Tycho, Longomontanus, Gassendus, the landgrave of Hassia'' (etc) (Company of Stationers, Printed by R. and W. Leybourn London 1656). (in English).〕 This led to a controversy with Thomas Streete, who published his ''Astronomia Carolina'' in 1661,〔T. Streete, ''Astronomia Carolina. A New of the Coelestial Motions. Composed According to the Best Observations and Most Rational Grounds of Art. Yet Farre More Easie, Expedite and Perspicuous Then Any Before Extant. With Exact and Most Easie Tables Thereunto, and Precepts for the Calculation of Eclipses &c.'' (London, 1661).〕 and followed it with ''An Appendix to Astronomia Carolina'' in 1664〔 (London, Printed for Francis Cossinet 1664)〕 in which he criticised Wing for his mistakes. In 1665 Wing responded in his ''Examen Astronomiae Carolina'',〔Vincent Wing, ''Examen astronomiæ Carolinæ: T.S., or, a short mathematicall discourse containing, some animadversions upon Mr. Thomas Streetes astronomicall tables of the cœlestial motions wherein his errours and mistakes are clearly detected, and the author hereof justly vindicated from his unjust aspersions. (In an appendix to the said astronomical treatise.) By Vincent Wing, mathemat.'' (London: printed by W. Leybourn, for G. Sawbridge, at the Bible upon Ludgate Hill, 1665).〕 exposing the alleged errors of Thomas Street, who retaliated with ''Examen examinatum'' of 1667,〔''Examen examinatum: or, Wing's examination of Astronomia Carolina examined : Containing an explication of some of the fundamental-grounds of the said Astronomie. With a castigation of the envy and ignorance of Vincent Wing. By Thomas Streete student in astronomy and mathematicks.'' Imprimatur. ex ædibus Lamb. Jul. 16. 1666. Tho. Cooke, reverendissimo in Christo Patri & Dno. D. Gilberto Archiepisc. Cant. Sacellanus Domesticus. (London : printed by John Darby, and are to be sold by John Sellers compass-maker, at the signe of the Mariners-Compass and Sphere, at the Hermitage staires in Wapping, 1667).〕 'a castigation of the envy and ignorance of Vincent Wing.' Wing issued ephemerides for twenty years (1652–1671), which John Flamsteed considered to be the most accurate of their time. As a very young man Flamsteed maintained a correspondence with Wing (who died in 1668).〔E.G. Forbes, L. Murdin and F. Wilmoth, ''The Correspondence of John Flamsteed, The First Astronomer Royal'' (Institute of Physics/CRC Press, London 1995) Vol. 1, passim. (Read here )〕 Flamsteed, who interested himself in the opinions of both Wing and Streete, wrote: "with (Wing ) I had a faire Correspondence, and though we differed ''de parallaxi et Æquationibus systematis Solaris'' and severall other things, yet our dissent made us not the lesse freinds;" adding, that though he (Flamsteed ) differed with Mr. Streete in his opinions ''de Fixatione Apheliorum et Nodorum, et de Æquationibus Lunae oscillatorijs'', yet he hoped that Streete should prove to be a friendly correspondent also.〔''Flamsteed's Correspondence'', Vol. 1, p. 32.〕 A convinced astrologer, Wing edited in 1660 the ''Defence of the Divine Art of Natural Astrologie'' which had been sent to him by his late friend George Atwell (c.1576–1658), Surveyor, and 'Professor of the Mathematicks' at the University of Cambridge,〔'Professor' perhaps meaning only, ''Teacher''. Atwell is called ''Cantab. de studio et practici mathematicis non-ignobilis,'' his life-dates known from his gravestone at North Runcton, Norfolk: see Venn, ''Alumni Cantabrigienses Part I, From the Earliest Times to 1751'', Vol. 1 (Cambridge, University Press 1922), p. 55, citing John le Neve, ''Monumenta Anglicana'' (1717), Vol. V, p. 48.〕 to which he wrote an informative preface.〔George Atwel, ''AN APOLOGY, Or, Defence of the Divine Art of Natural Astrologie. Being an answer to a Sermon preached in Cambridge, July 25, 1652, Wherein all the Chief Objections against Astrology are fully Answered (etc); Written by the Learned and Ingenious Mathematician, Mr. GEORGE ATWEL, late Professor of the Mathematicks in the University of Cambridg; and now published by a Friend, for the publike benefit of his native Countrymen of England. VVhose Preface is hereunto annexed.'' (London, Printed for Samuel Speed, at the sign of the Printing-press in Paul's Churchyard. Anno 1660.) (Read here ).〕 Wing remarks, "The stars incline the will (saith ''Scotus'') yet in no wise necessitate it, notwithstanding it often hapneth that Astrologers fore-tel truths concerning the manners of men, by reason of their proneness to follow their sensitive appetite." Atwell was the author of a work on Surveying explaining the accurate use of the measuring chain, which by 1665 had run into a third, enlarged (London) edition.〔 ''The Faithfull Surveyour'' (Cambridge, 1658); ''The faithful surveyor : teaching how to measure all manner of ground exactly, by the chain onely: also, thereby to take distances of a mile space, and the situation of any building. Shewing likewise the making and use of a new instrument, called a pandoron; which supplies the use of the plain-table, theodelite, quadrant, quadrat, circumferentor, and any other observing instrument. As also divers secrets for conveying and clensing of water, flowing and draining of grounds, quenching houses on fire, &c. With an appendix unfolding errours in board and timber-measure: with directions for making a carpenters rule. By George Atwell late teacher of the mathematicks in Cambridge.'' (London, sold by Ralph Needham at the Bell in Little Britain 1665).〕 In 1664 Wing produced his own treatise on practical land surveying, his ''Geodætes Practicus : or, The Art of Surveying''.〔''Geodætes Practicus: or, The Art of Surveying : Surveyed and laid out in a more Accurate, Plain and Expeditious Plat, then hath hitherto been Performed : Being a WORKE very usefull for Surveyors, Architects, Engineers, Masons, Carpenters, Joyners, Brick-layers, Glasiers, Painters, &c. and generally for all them that are Ingeniously affected with such kinde of Learning. By Vincent Wing'' (London. Printed by Wil. Leybourn, for George Sawbridge, at the Signe of the Bible upon Ludgate-hill, 1664).〕 A second edition, containing also a reprint of the ''Examen Astronomiae Carolinae'', was produced in 1666, almost the entire run of which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.〔This fact is apparently referred to in the second edition of William Leybourn's ''The Compleat Surveyor'' (London: E. Flesher for George Sawbridge, 1674). See images of title pages at ("The Compleat Surveyor" website ) of the Francois D. "Bud" Uzes Memorial Scholarship Fund.〕 The Third Edition was the much enlarged version issued as ''Geodætes Practicus Redivivus'' by his nephew John Wing in 1699–1700. The culmination of Wing's labours took shape in his ''Astronomia Britannica'',〔Vincent Wing, ''Astronomia Britannica, In Qua Per Novam Concinnioremque Methodum, Hi Quinque Tractatus Traduntur: 1. Logistica Astronomica..., 2. Trigonometria..., 3. Doctrina Sphaerica..., 4. Theoria Planetarum..., 5. Tabulae Novae Astronomicae... congruentes cum observationibus accuratissimus nobilis Tychonis Brahei. Cui accessit observationum astronomicarum Synopsis compendiaria'' (Typis Johannis Macock, Impensis Georgii Sawbridge prostantque venales apud locum vulgo Clerkenwel-Green dictum (London), 1669). (Read here ).〕 published posthumously in 1669.〔See B.S. Capp, 'Wing, Vincent (1619–1668)', ''O.D.N.B.''〕 Written entirely in Latin, well-illustrated with diagrams and enriched throughout by classical literary allusions, this was a complete system of astronomy on Copernican principles. It followed Seth Ward in formulating Kepler's second law.〔Derek Gjertsen, ''The Newton Handbook'' (1986), p. 613.〕 It was prefaced by a line-engraved portrait of the author seated at a table with globe and instruments, and a view of a village (possibly meant for North Luffenham) beyond.〔See National Portrait Gallery (NPG D30331 ).〕 and opened with a letter of dedication to Sir Robert Markham (1644–1690), M.P. for Grantham, who wrote a two-page postscript ''de Refractione'' to the text. The seven-page preface, ''Praefatium ad Candidum Lectorem'', which opens with a flourish invoking the authority of Hermes Trismegistus, is dated from North Luffenham early in 1665. The five 'books' of the main text (pp. 1–246) each have their own title-pages, the first three dated 1668 and the last two 1669. The latter half of the work (pp. 1–366) is occupied by the Tables with a further dated title-page of 1668 for the ''Synopsis Compendiaria'' of Astronomic Observations (part 2 p. 265). Wing also wrote for the Stationers' Company an almanac styled ''Olympia Domata'', the annual sale of which averaged 50,000 copies. 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 (see below). The publication was continued by his descendants at irregular intervals until 1805. Vincent Wing resided with his wife Alice at North Luffenham, where daughters Mary (1654), Alice (1658), Elizabeth (1664) and Catherine (1666) and sons Vincent (1656) and James (1661), were christened.〔 P.G. Dennis, ''The Registers of North Luffenham'' (1896), ''sub anno''.〕 He occasionally went to London for learned company. His friend and biographer John Gadbury commended his wit.〔John Gadbury, ''A Brief Relation of the Life and Death of the late Famous Mathematician and Astrologer, Mr. Vincent Wing'' (London, Printed by T. Milbourn, 1669). (Read here )〕 He 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. He contracted consumption, of which he died on 20 September 1668, aged 49, having made his will only a fortnight previously. Gadbury observed that dedication to work had exhausted him, and rebutted any suggestion that Wing might have taken his own life.〔Gadbury, ''A Brief Relation'' p. 34.〕 He was buried at North Luffenham. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Vincent Wing」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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