Stephen Martin Saxby
Encyclopedia
Stephen Martin Saxby was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy of England during the 1800s. Saxby practiced a form of Meteorological astrology
Meteorological astrology
Meteorological astrology or astrometeorology is the practice of applying the astrological/astronomical placements of the Sun, Moon, and planets to forecast the weather.Astrometeorology is thousands of years old and based on astronomical positions that directly affect the weather...

 or Pseudo Meteorology in the Victorian Era. Through his calculations he predicted a storm called the Saxby Gale. Saxby also published a book in 1864 called the Saxby Weather system. The Saxby Weather System taught his methods of Astrological Meteorology. Using his methods he distributed lists of days when atmospheric disturbances would occur. The lists were given to sailors of that era so they could anticipate approaching storms. Saxby's Astrological Meteorological methods have inspired others who predict weather using astrology including Ken Ring
Ken Ring
Ken Ring was an Irish soccer player who played in the League of Ireland in the 1990s.Ring was an attacking player who played for Bohemians amongst others during his career in Ireland. He played a part in Bohs' 1992/93 Leinster Senior Cup campaign....

 of New Zealand.

Middle Years

Saxby was an instructor of Steam Engineers. He taught at the Steam Reserve Collage in Greenwich. Saxby published his weather predictions in Nautical Magazine, a journal for the merchant marine. He tried to get the attention of the Government Meteorological Department. The Astronomer Royal told Saxby to Drop his investigations. In 1861 Saxby sent weather warnings to Lloyd's the marine insurers.

Saxby also tried to interest Robert Fitzroy
Robert FitzRoy
Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy RN achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin's famous voyage, and as a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate weather forecasting a reality...

 of the British Meteorological office. The method of Lunar forcasting was not acceptable to the authorities of the Victorian era.

The Saxby Weather System

The Weather System was a book published by Saxby in 1864 outlining his theories. The position of the moon indicates when there will be atmospheric disturbances according to his theory. The phase of the moon its proximity to earth and hemespheric location indicated change days when the weather might change. If the phase,position and hemespheric location aligned then a large storm might occur somewhere in the world. Although Saxby could not predict where the storm would occur.
Saxby published lists of days when atmospheric disturbances would occur. These lists were given to sailors. Sailors in some parts of the world claimed his methods seemed to work at sea in some latitudes. In the second edition of the book Saxby provided arguments against Robert FitzRoy
Robert FitzRoy
Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy RN achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin's famous voyage, and as a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate weather forecasting a reality...

's debunking of lunar weather forcasting.

The Saxby Gale

Saxby predicted a storm which occurred on October 5, 1869 in Eastern Canada. Today the storm is known as the Saxby Gale.
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