Tom Sutherland, who was held hostage by Hezbollah in Beirut for six and a half years, much of the time with Terry Anderson, has died. He was Dean of Agriculture at the American University there. Born 3 May 1931 at 6am in Falkirk, Scotland, he was kidnapped on 9 June 1985 and released on 18 November 1991, along with Terry Waite, who had gone to negotiate his release and been held himself. Sutherland was badly treated, beaten, spent long periods in solitary confinement and attempted suicide several times during his captivity.
He had Saturn in Capricorn on his midheaven opposition Jupiter Pluto and IC square Uranus North Node (Venus) in Aries – so tough, overflowing with initiative, restless, of that trail-blazing and determined early 1930s generation. He had a 12th house Sun Mercury in Taurus square Mars in Leo in his 4th and a Scorpio Moon – stubborn, argumentative, a powerful personality.
When he was captured tr Uranus was on the cusp of his 8th and tr Saturn was conjunct his Descendant, moving to conjunct his Moon. Tr Pluto was conjunct his Mars/Saturn exactly which is extreme danger. In the brutal years following, tr Pluto in Scorpio was opposition his Taurus Mercury Sun and square his Mars. When he was finally released tr Sun Mars Pluto in Scorpio were on his Descendant sextile his MC; and tr Jupiter moving through his 5th was conjunct his Solar Arc Jupiter Pluto, moving to trine his MC in the months following.
He was awarded $35 million in compensation by the US government from assets seized from Iran, who had been helping his captors. He put the money into a charitable foundation.