Nathaniel Torporley

Nathaniel Torporley, who lived from 1564 to 1632, was an English clergyman, mathematician and astrologer, born in Shropshire. He attended Shrewsbury free grammar school from 1571, matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1581, took his B.A. in 1584 and his M.A. from Brasenose College in 1591, and was rector of Salwarpe in Worcestershire from 1608 to 1622. He associated with Thomas Harriot and acquired a knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, and he was supported by Henry Percy, ninth Earl of Northumberland. In 1605 the council examined him for having cast the king's nativity. He spent two or more years in France as amanuensis to François Viète and published a pamphlet against him under the name Poulterey. In 1602 he published Diclides Coelometricae.