Robson, Vivian E(rwood) B.Sc.

(1890-1942)

(Birmingham 26 May 1890 11:56 AM - 31 Dec 1942)

A well-known English astrologer who combined a practical knowledge of

mathematics and astronomy with a thorough knowledge of traditional
astrology. He read French, German, and Latin and was learned in medieval
and Renaissance astrology. His books were popular on both sides of the
Atlantic and most of them also appeared in American editions. The books on
Elections, the Radix System, and the Fixed Stars are still considered to be the
prime English-language authorities on those subjects.

His book Astrology and Sex is an exhaustive treatment of the subject

containing much detailed information that he assembled from a variety of
sources. It is interesting to note his testimonial to the efficacy of the use of
derived houses in natal chart interpretation (pp. 143-47). He mentions the
French astrologer Eudes Picard (1867-1932) and was evidently familiar with
his Astrologie judiciaire, which treats derived houses in great detail. This puts
Robson in the same camp with J. B. Morin in opposition to those English
astrologers, such as A. J. Pearce, who opposed the use of this "horary
method" in natal astrology (because it was not mentioned by Claudius
Ptolemy).

Following the death of Alan Leo in 1917, Robson became Editor of Modern
Astrology, but quit after some years because of difficulties he encountered in
working for Mrs. Leo.1 Beginning in the 1920s he wrote several books of
lasting importance (listed below).

Robson wrote two papers on the chart for the signing of the American
Declaration of Independence. These were published in the August and
October 1932 issues of the British Journal of Astrology. They cited the chart
for American Independence contained in Ebenezer Sibly's book A New and
Complete Illustration of the Occult Sciences (London, 1785), for which see the
color facsimile in Louis McNeice, Astrology (London, 1864), p. 175. The chart
is a Horary chart set for a certain time, namely 10:10 PM at London. Robson

recalculated the chart as being set for 9:50PM LMT (=9:54 PM LAT), but
perhaps Sibly made an error in calculating it. Robson inferred that Sibly had
information that the signing took place in Philadelphia at 5:10PM, and he
simply added 5 hours to that time to get the equivalent time at London.
Robson's papers were cited by Ralph Kraum in Astrological Americana
(Washington: A.F.A., Inc., 1949), pp. 3-5, with a chart set for 4:50 PM at
Philadelphia. A very similar chart was proposed 25 years later by Dane
Rudhyar, but without any acknowledgment of Kraum's or Robson's writings.
Recent historical research by astrologer Gary Noel indicates that the signing
apparently took place at around mid-morning on July 4th. (See the entry for
Dane Rudhyar for further information).

See American Astrology Magazine, Nov 1943, pp. 19-22 for a biographical
sketch by Dorothy Ryan. See also James Herschel Holden: A History of
Horoscopic Astrology (Tempe, Az.: A.F.A., Inc., 1996), pp. 198-199 and 233234; 2nd ed. 2006, pp. 210, 245, 248).

Robson's chart and publications

A Beginner's Guide to Practical Astrology.

London: T. Weiner Laurie, 1931.
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, n.d. [1940?]
New York: Samuel Weiser, 1976. repr.

Astrology and Sex.

Philadelphia: W Foulsham Co., 1941.

A Student's Textbook of Astrology.

London: Cecil Palmer, 1922. 1st ed. Viii, 243 pp. 8vo.

Philadelphia: J,B. Lippincott, n.d. [1940?]

Electional Astrology.
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1937. 227 pp. 8vo.

The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology.

London: Cecil Palmer, 1923. 1st ed. 264 pp. 8vo.
London: Cecil Palmer, 1928. 2nd ed.
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1931. [3rd ed.]
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, [1940?]. repr. 264 pp. 8vo.

The Radix System.

London: Stallex Publ. Co., [1930] III pp. 8vo.
[also discusses Minor Directions (Tertiary etc.)]
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, n.d. [1940?]
Toledo, Ohio: Darr Publs, 1974. repr.