Christopher Wren

Lore & Background

Wren was born in East Knoyle, the only surviving son of Christopher Wren the Elder and Mary Cox. As a child he 'seem'd consumptive' but survived into robust old age. He was first taught at home by a private tutor and his father. He entered Wadham College, Oxford, on 25 June 1650, where he studied Latin and the works of Aristotle. He became closely associated with John Wilkins, the Warden of Wadham, and the Wilkins circle, whose activities led to the formation of the Royal Society. He graduated B.A. in 1651 and M.A. in 1653.

After receiving his M.A., Wren was elected a fellow of All Souls' College and began an active period of research and experiment in Oxford, including physiological experiments on dogs and the first injection of fluids into the bloodstream of a live animal under laboratory conditions. He was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, London, in 1657, and in 1661 was elected Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. He was a founder of the Royal Society and served as its president from 1680 to 1682. His scientific work was highly regarded by Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal.

Reader's Guide

Christopher Wren's significance lies in his dual legacy as a leading scientist and the architect who shaped the skyline of London after the Great Fire of 1666. As Surveyor of Works to Charles II from 1669, he was personally responsible for rebuilding 51 churches, though the principal creative responsibility for a number is now more commonly attributed to others in his office, especially Nicholas Hawksmoor. His masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710, remains a defining symbol of London. Beyond architecture, Wren was a founder of the Royal Society and its president from 1680 to 1682, contributing to astronomy, optics, mechanics, and medicine. His scientific work was highly regarded by Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal. His career exemplifies the interconnectedness of science and art in the 17th century, and his buildings continue to be studied and admired for their English Baroque style.

Did You Know?

• Wren was a founder of the Royal Society and served as its president from 1680 to 1682.
• His scientific work was highly regarded by Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal.
• He was knighted on 14 November 1673 after resigning from the Savilian chair in Oxford.
• Wren provided many of the anatomical drawings for the textbook Cerebri Anatome (1664) by Thomas Willis.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Of Architecture", Parentalia; or Memoirs of the Family of the Wrens, comp. by his son Christopher (1750, reprinted 1965), Appendix, p. 351." — Christopher Wren "A time will come when men will stretch out their eyes. They should see planets like our Earth." — Christopher Wren "He was of opinion that what we now vulgarly call the Gothick, ought properly and truly be named Saracenick Architecture refined by the Christians." — Christopher Wren "Conclusion of the life of Sir Christopher Wren, in The Magazine of Magazines, January 1759, p. 11." — Christopher Wren