Wren
Name: Sir Christopher Wren
Achievements: Architect of St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Born: October 20, 1632; East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England
Died: February 25, 1723; London, England (Aged 90)
Field & Discipline: Art; Architecture; Science; Astronomy
Education: Private tutors; Westminster School, London (1641-46): Wadham
College, Oxford University (1649-51)
Major Work:
St. Paul's Cathedral, London (1675-1710)
Life & Times:
Christopher Wren was taught by the famous surgeon and anatomist Dr. Charles Scarburgh, who introduced him to his friends and colleagues, including the astronomers Seth Ward and Lawrence Rooke, the mathematician [a pal of] Wallis*, the anatomist [a pal of] Petty*, the scientist [a pal of] Boyle*, and the Elector Palatine's chaplain, [a pal of] Wilkins*.
It was Ward and Scarburgh who gave the 16-year-old Wren the task of translating the works of the great mathematician [translated] Oughtred* into Latin, while he also built various astronomical and meteorological instruments, including a weather clock and several sundials.
In 1649, through the influence of Wilkins Wren entered Wadham College, Oxford. Here he became an important member of the intellectual circle known as the 'Philosophical Society of Oxford', alongside Wilkins, Ward, Wallis, Rooke, Petty and the young [a pal of] Hooke*, and through which he for a time corresponded with the French mathematician [corresponded with] Blaise Pascal*.
Within two years Wren had graduated, and after another two years (much of which he spent assisting the anatomist [drew for] Willis* in his investigations of the human brain, providing beautiful and accurate drawings for Willis's 'Cerebri Anatome' (1664) was made a fellow of All Souls' College, where he remained in residence until 1657.
During his eight years at Oxford, Wren became famous for the variety and number of his undertakings and the breadth of his knowledge: for example, he built a large sundial for All Souls College, presented [knew] Evelyn* with a piece of white marble impregnated with red dye, made (among many other things) a talking organ, a transparent beehive, a hand-held compass, a loom that could weave several pairs of stockings at once, and a variety of pumps and musical instruments.
He also wrote papers on new codes, submarine navigation, techniques for dredging and fortifying harbors, and the application of engineering principles to architecture in order to strengthen buildings. Most notably, he was a pioneer of anaesthetics and blood transfusions, and wrote four definitive tracts on the cycloid.
In 1657 Wren was appointed professor of astronomy at Gresham College, London, where the intellectual circle that had developed out of the 'Philosophical Society of Oxford' proposed a society "for the promotion of Physico-Mathematicall Experimental Learning," for which they received royal patronage in 1661.
This group soon afterwards became the [proposed idea of] Royal Society* (founded 1662), of which Wren, along with such notables as [founded RS with] Oldenburg*, Hooke and the American scientist [founded RS with] John Winthrop*, became a founding member and active participant.
In 1661 Wren was elected Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. Known also as an exceptional draughtsmen, geometer and engineer, before the year was out Wren had been asked by the Bishop of London, Gilbert Sheldon, a former warden of All Souls, to report on the condition of St. Paul's Cathedral and to make recommendations on its restoration.
In 1662 Wren was commissioned by his uncle, the Bishop of Ely, to build a new chapel at Pembroke College, Cambridge, while Sheldon, also Chancellor of Oxford, asked him to build a university theatre for ceremonies such as the conferment of degrees.
In 1665 Wren undertook a tour of architectural study in France, meeting in Paris the Italian architect [met] Bernini* who was working on the Louvre.
In the Spring of 1666 he returned to Oxford, where he made his first design for a dome for St. Paul's Cathedral. One week after this design was submitted, the Great Fire of London destroyed two-thirds of the City and left the old cathedral a ruin. Wren was immediately called to London, and on 11 September 1666, less than a week after the Great Fire had been brought under control, he - along with several others, including Evelyn, Hooke and William Petty - submitted a plan to the king for rebuilding the City on new and more regular lines.
No new plan, however, proceeded any further, as the problems of survey, compensation, and redistribution were too great. In 1668, Wren was recalled to London to advise on the rebuilding of St. Paul's and the same year he, along with [formulated inverse-square law with] Christiaan Huyghens* and [formulated inverse-square law with] Halley*, formulated the inverse-square law of gravitational attraction.
The following year he was awarded both the commission for St. Paul's and the job of Surveyor-General, which made him responsible for the care of all royal residences and properties and for the design and construction of all new royal buildings.
His first major job in this role was to design the new Custom House (1669-74), but he was soon supervising the design and rebuilding of 51 of London's churches (28 of which remain today), the most spectacular of which is perhaps St. Stephen Walbrook.
In 1673 Wren was knighted and, after his designs for St Paul’s were finally passed, on 21 June 1675 the foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid. Wren, assisted by Hooke and later (in 1679) [assistant was] Hawksmoor*, oversaw the progress of the cathedral over the next 35 years.
In 1679 Wren became a member of the council of the [a director of] Hudson’s Bay Company(https://app.thebrain.com/brain/f3e16344-7cd9-4fa3-ae1d-59876e128474/e3a87b54-a5d4-58c1-a574-393b58b41388)* (formed to exploit Hudson’s discovery) and for five years was a shareholder and active director. Wren was president of the Royal Society from 1680 to 1682, while [knew work of] Leeuwenhoek* was sending the Society his sensational microscopic descriptions
Throughout the 1670s, 1680s and 1690s, Wren continued working on many other architectural projects in London and elsewhere, including Greenwich Observatory for the Royal Astronomer, [worked with] Flamsteed*, Greenwich Hospital (with Hawksmoor and [worked with] Vanbrugh*, 1696-1730), Kensington Palace, and the western towers and north transept of Westminster Abbey (1698-1705).
In 1718 he retired.
Extra Connections: His work related to that of [work related to] Scaliger*, and [work related to] Whiston* and [work related to] Bazalgette*.
Close friend of diarist [a pal of] Pepys*
Knew [knew] Sprat* and [knew] Tillotson*
Was a supporter of Archbishop [supported] Laud*
Fancied Nell [attracted to] Gwyn*, the King’s mistress.
He was employed by [employed by] William of Orange*
Assessment: His influence is reflected in the church steeples and domes in the Protestant countries of Europe and in the United States.
Oneliner: Sir Christopher Wren, architect of St Paul’s
Bibliography:
- Chambers, James, 'Christopher Wren, Sutton Publishing: Stroud, Gloucestershire, 1998
- Dictionary of Scientific Biography.
- Encyclopedia Britannica.
- Whinney, Margaret, Wren, Thames & Hudson: London, 1971.
Language: English
Father: Dr. Christopher Wren (1591-1658)
Mother: Mary Cox
Siblings: Five older sisters
Spouse: 1) Faith Coghill (married 1669, d. 1675); 2) Jane Fitzwilliam (married 1676, d. 1679)
Children: by Coghill: Gilbert (1672-74); Christopher (1675-1747). Fy Fitzwilliam: Jane (1677-1702); William (1679-1738)