Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hartgill, George
HARTGILL or HARTGYLL, GEORGE (fl. 1594), astronomer, was in considerable repute during Queen Elizabeth's reign, from his knowledge of the stars and his skill in astrology. He designated himself 'minister of the word,' and may therefore have been a protestant preacher.
Hartgill published 'Generall Calenders or Most Easie Astronomicall Tables in the which are contained (according to Verie Carefull and exact calculation) as well the names, natures, magnitudes, latitudes, longitudes, aspects, declinations, and right ascensions of all the notablest fixed starres universally seruing all Countries, as also their mediation of heauen as generall as is aforesaid. Also their situation in the twelve houses of the Coelestiall figure, indifferently fitting all the middle of the eight climate, but verie precisely the latitude of 51 degrees 42 minutes of the Pole Arcticke: also certain perpetuall Tables for the exact placing of the planets etc. Moreover, a Callender of the Cosmicall and Acronicall Rising and Setting of all thesayd Starres,' London, 1594, folio. This is dedicated to ' Sir William Pawlet, Knight, Lord Marques of Winchester,' and is dated 'from my Studie at your Lordshippe's Manor of Checkerell [i.e. Chickerell, Dorsetshire] the last of August 1594.' A second edition was published in 1656 by T. & J. Gadbury, with a whole-length portrait of the author, engraved by Gaywood, in the title.
[Lowndes's Bibl. Manual, ii. 1007; Granger's Bibliog. Hist. i. 220; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]