Quincunx Astrology - Pluto in Sagittarius

Part II - Pluto, Sagittarius and the Revolutions

Sagittarius

The period 1749 through 1762 preceded the two great world-changing revolutions - the American and the French Revolutions. During much of this period Pluto in Sagittarius was squared by Uranus in Pisces, lending strong revolutionary sentiments to those who were born, many of whom played major roles in their respective Revolutions and their subsequent fledgling governments.

This was also a period that saw religious fervor - Jonathan Edwards (more about him later) with his fire & brimstone sermons; the founding of the Jewish sect Chassidim in 1751 who stressed a fervent, rapturous devotion and service to God; the same year saw the powers of the Portugese Inquisition cut back; in 1753 England began to allow the naturalization of Jews; and 1759 saw the Jesuits driven out of Portugal to name just a few events.

The calendar was re-worked - in 1751 the British set New Year's on January 1 and the next year the Gregorian calendar was adopted, thereby eliminating September 3rd through the 13th, 1752.

Science and medicine made some advances, both empirically and socially. In 1750 the French determined the solar/lunar parallax; the first mental asylums opened in London in 1751 signaling the beginnings of a more human approach to mental illness (I wonder if our own Pluto in Sagittarius transit will signal something similar - getting us back on track after the last 20 years of driving the mentally ill out onto the streets to become homeless); in 1754 the Scottish discovered carbonic acid gas, which we know as carbon dioxide - which is essential to photosynthesis, carbonated beverages (where would I be without Coke?), fire extinguishers and dry ice; the same year saw the first female M.D.; the Russians discovered the atmosphere of Venus in 1761; 1761 was also the year that the Italian Morgagni established the beginnings of pathological anatomy; and the same year saw the founding of the first veterinary school in France.

Social events during this period included the first permanent racetrack established by the Jockey Club in England during 1753; the British Marriage Act of 1753 outlawed marriages of "unauthorized persons" (no clue as to who that referred to - but it seems in the same spirit as recent laws here in the States designed to prevent same-sex marriages); in 1755 the Lisbon Earthquake killed 30,000 people; the following year the Black Hole of Calcutta incident in which 120 British soliders died took place; and 1756 also saw the first chocolate factory in Germany and the first porcelain factory in France.

Many of the major players of the American and French Revolutions were born during the period 1749-1762 when Pluto was in Sagittarius. They include:

French Revolutionary Figures

Comte de Mirabeau, born in 1749 - the most important figure during the early part of the French Revolution;
Louis XVI, born August 23, 1754 (Sun/Mercury in Virgo conjunct Jupiter in late Leo, Uranus in Pisces square Pluto in Sag, Moon in Scorpio square Neptune in Leo) - the French monarch deposed (and beheaded) by the Revolution. After years of power abuse by the monarchy, Louis XVI tried to ease the financial and tax burden on the French people and even managed to make some limited changes in courts of law, but his efforts were opposed by the French Court and the nobility. He also helped the struggling American Revolution financially, but the tax burden just made the French nobility angrier;
Marie Antoinette, born November 2, 1755 (Moon/Jupiter in Libra square Mars in Cancer square Saturn in Capricorn, Sun/Venus in Scorpio square Neptune in Leo, and the Uranus/Pluto square) - the Queen Consort (also beheaded) who was very unpopular because she was foreign and also because she was extravagant. She also seemed to be intransigent, because she refused to compromise with the Revolutionists;
Louis XVIII, born in 1755 - brother of Louis XVI, escaped to Belgium during the Revolution and spend much of his time in exile. He ascended the throne after the defeat of Napoleon when the monarchy was restored, and as king he limited the freedom of the press;
Robespierre, born May 6, 1758 (Jupiter/Pluto in Sag square Uranus in Pisces, Sun in Taurus square Mars/Neptune in Leo) - the radical French Revolutionist who promoted the Reign of Terror. Robespierre was zealousy dedicated to the philosophies of Rousseau (in his prime during this period he advocated a return of mankind to a primitive state, which he considered superior to mankind's civilized state. He defended the popular will against divine right.) During the Revolution Robespierre declared the cult of Supreme Being (or the Theory of Deism) the official religion of France. Robespierre was so radical that he even guillotined more moderate proponents of the Revolution who not long before had been his comrades-in-arms. In the ultimate irony his radicalism eventually led to his own beheading during the Revolution.
Georges Danton, born in 1759 - one of those moderate Revolutionists that Robespierre ended up beheading. He tended towards radicalism, but he also recognized the value of pragmatism. Ideologically he was flexible, which led to his death;
Camille Desmoulins, born in 1760 - another Revolutionist who was quite radical early on. Being a journalist he wrote pieces urging revolt. His association with Danton made him guilty by association, so Robespierre executed him as well.

American Revolutionary Figures

Henry Knox, born in 1750 - Revolutionary military leader, became first Secretary of War;
James Madison, born March 16, 1751 (Saturn/Pluto in Sagittarius, Mercury/Uranus in Aquarius) - 4th President of the US, also considered the Father of the US Constitution;
Henry Dearborn, born in 1751 - another US Secretary of War, ordered building of Fort Chicago and organized the Marines Corp.;
Benjamin Stoddert, born in 1751 - first US Secretary of the Navy;
Philip Freneau, born in 1752 - American Poet, the "Poet of the American Revolution", specialized in satiric verse, vigorous expression of Jeffersonian ideals;
Alexander Hamilton, born January 11, 1757 (Venus/Pluto in Sag square Uranus in Pisces, Saturn in Aquarius opposing Neptune in Leo) - first US Secretary of the Treasury, lawyer, and statesman. He resolved the financial questions resulting from the Revolution, supported the ideology of a strong central government, wrote the Federalist and greatly influenced a number of decisions by the Supreme Court. He was killed by Aaron Burr in a duel - on the same spot where his (Hamilton's) son had been killed in a duel three years earlier. An astrological curiosity is that Aaron Burr had Pluto in Sag square a Venus/Uranus conjunction in Pisces, while Hamilton had Venus/Pluto in Sag square Uranus in Pisces;
Aaron Burr, born February 6, 1756 (Saturn in Aquarius opposing Neptune in Leo, Venus/Uranus in Pisces square Pluto in Sag) - 3rd Vice-President, killer of Hamilton;
Henry Lee, born in 1756 - displayed a superb command of cavalry during the Revolution;
Lafayette, born in 1757 - the French statesman and military leader who helped the American Revolution during a critical period;
1760 - George III ascends to the throne of England, setting the stage...

Other figures born (or in their prime) with Pluto in Sagittarius during this period include:

George Crabbe, born in 1754 - English poet, medical practioner and ordained rector known for realistic depictions of nature and naturalistic portrayals of village and farm life;
Jonathan Edwards (born October 5, 1703, Saturn/Neptune in Aries opposing Sun in Libra, Moon/Pluto in Leo square Jupiter in Taurus retrograde square Venus in Scorpio) - American theologian devoted to Calvinism (John Calvin was born during the last Pluto in Sagittarius transit in 1509) mixed with mysticism. He wrote "Inquiry into Freedom of Will" in 1754. He was known for his unyielding discipline and his vivid, fiery depictions of hellfire and damnation. He started the Great Awakening, a period of religious fervor and revival that lasted for many years. His church services were marked by fearful commotions among his audience (all of this took place while Pluto was still in Scorpio). By the time Pluto entered Sag though, Edwards' fantacism had worn thin, so he retreated into the background where he wrote his most important theological works, still considered by some to be the most important American contributions to theology. His philosophy denied that humanity's free will could undertake actions that were not already known to God;
In 1755 Benjamin Franklin wrote "Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind and the Peopling of Countries". An early discussion of overpopulation?;
In 1756 George Stubbs, the English painter, became famous for his highly accurate and aesthetic portrayals of the horse.
Wolfgang Mozart, born January 27, 1756 (Sun/Saturn in Aquarius opposing Neptune in Leo, Moon/Pluto in Sag square Uranus in Pisces) - Austrian composer noted for his brilliance, eccentricity and extraordinary creativity. Musically, he managed to balance succint form with an emotionalism that bridged the Classical and Romantic periods of composition. Of course, none of this was really recognized until after his death;
William Blake, born November 28, 1757 (Mars/Neptune in Leo opposing Saturn in Aquarius, Sun/Jupiter in Sag, and the Pluto/Uranus square) - English poet who created illustrated poetry "inspired by mystical visions", very lyrical and propehtic;
In 1757 Richard Price, the Welsh moral philosopher wrote "Review of Principal Questions in Morals". He presaged Kant (transcendentalism and the belief in the fundamental freedom of the individual) and opposed the American War, criticizing the justice of English foreign policy;
Noah Webster, born October 16, 1758 (Jupiter/Pluto in Sag square Uranus in Pisces, Mars in Scorpio square Saturn in Aquarius, Sun in Libra opposing Mars in Aries sextile/trine Jupiter/Pluto) - American lexicographer and author of Webster's dictionary. He supported the use of English as the American language (as opposed to the adoption of German as the American language which was considered because of ill will towards England);
Robert Burns, born in 1759 - Scottish poet who wrote lovingly of country and farm life, but was also quite critical of hypocrisy and cruelty;
Thomas Cooper, born in 1759 - American philosopher who was quite controversial in his conflicts with clergy;
Thomas Clarkson, born in 1760 - English abolitionist who opposed slavery and worked to halt the slave trade (England outlawed slavery in 1807).

So, during this period we have another gestation of an emphasis on independence - a generation of people who played roles in another major turning point in history that occurred as Pluto moved through Capricorn and on into Aquarius. There are definite pattern parallels to the previous Pluto in Sag transit that preceded the Reformation. So I wonder now if our children and grandchildren being born now are destined to play major roles in some great movement of the next century? Uranus (in Pisces - one of the last gasps of the Piscean Age) was square Pluto during the last Pluto Sag transit, but sextiles Pluto from Aquarius during the early part of this transit. Perhaps a more positive and constructive blending and expression of these energies this time around? (I would hate to think there might be more beheadings in our future...)

There was also much religious activity - mystical in nature, fundamental (as opposed to progressive) in effect, yet nonetheless important. A lot of philosophy, poetry and writing focused on a return to nature and the beauty and simplicity of rural life. Perhaps we will begin to reverse the metroindustrialized quality of our life and begin to return to simpler, more rural ways of life (aided and abetted of course by the electronic revolution of Aquarius that would allow this)?

Sources:

The Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Copyright 1994
The Timetables of History, A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events, by Bernard Grun, Copyright 1946, 1963, 1975, 1979, 1982
The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Release 6, Copyright 1993

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