WREN, Sir CrrrasToPtrEn, a renowned English architect, was born at East Knoyle, in Wiltshire, on Oct. 20, 1632. His father, Dr. C. Wren, was dean of Windsor, and his uncle, Dr. M. Wren, was bishop successively of Hereford, Norwich, and Ely. At an early age, young Wren was placed at Westminster school, under the celebrated Dr. Busby, and while yet only in his fourteenth year, was entered a gentleman-commoner of Wadham collegd, Oxford. Here he made considerable progress in mathematical stud ies, and attracted the notice of the cultivators of physical science—whether resident at the university or visitors—by his inventions of certain mathematical instruments, and his general zeal, and enthusiasm in the pursuit of experimental philosophy. In 1650 he took his degree of B.A. and in 1653, that of ,M.A., having been previously made fellow of All Souls. He now also became a member of a society established at Oxford for the improvement of natural and experimental philosophy; and in 1654 is spoken of by Evelyn. in his Diary, as miracle of ayouth ;" also, in his Scutptitra, as "that rare and early prodigy of universal science." The acquaintance thus begun, ripened into a firm friendship between Wren and Evelyn.
In 1655 Wren greatly assisted in perfecting the barometer, then only recently in vented. In 1657 he left Oxford for London, where he became Gresham professor of astronomy. In May, 1661, however, he returned to Oxford, as Savilian professor of as tronomy. The same year he received the degree of D.C.L. Before leaving London, Wren had in conjunction with lord Brouncker, the hon. Robert Boyle, Mr. Bruce, Dr. Wilkins, sir Robert Moray, and others, who used to meet together at Gresham college, laid the foundation of the future royal society. Before the society was formally incor porated, the members felt much the absence of Wren from their meetings, and one of their first proceedings was to get the king to lay his commands upon him to perfect a de sign he had in hand of a globe of the moon, and to " proceed in drawing the shapes of lit tle animals as they appear in the microscope." The lunar globe was finished, much to the satisfaction of his majesty, who placed it in his cabinet of rarities. He also summoned Wren from Oxford to assist sir John Denham with his advice on architectural subjects; the poet Denham having been appointed surveyor-general of his majesty's buildings, but possessing little or no knowledge of the subject.
The study of architecture was one to which Wren had given great attention, while still a very young man, notwithstanding his devotion to mathematics, astronomy, chem istry, and even anatomy. In 1663, in his capacity of assistant surveyor-general, he was offered a large salary to go to Tangier, to survey and direct the works at the mole, harbor, and fortications; but this commission he declined. In the same year Wren was engaged by the dean and chapter of St. Paul's to make atsurvey of the cathedral, with a view to certain projected repairs in that vast fabric. He accordingly drew up a very careful and elaborate account of the state of the building, with suggestions for its improvement and accompanying drawings and designs. All of these were laid before the king; but before any further steps were taken for the restoration of St. Paul's, that building was leveled to the ground by the memorable fire of 1666, and Wren was des tined to be the architect of the new cathedral, instead of the restorer of the old. The first work actually built from a design by Wren was the chapel at Pembroke college, Cambridge, in 1663. But in the same year he designed the Sheldonian theater at Oxford, which was commenced in and finished in 1669. In 1664 Wren also designed some valuable additions to the buildings at Trinity college, Cambridge; particularly the beautiful western quadrangle known as Nevile's court. To this he added, in 1666, the
library of Trinity college, said by Gwjlt to be " one of his finest productions, and one with which he himself was well satisfied. It consists of two orders; a Doric arcade be low, open to a basement supported by columns, which has a flat . . . The prin cipal story is decorated with three quarter columns of the Ionic order, well propor tioned." In 1665 Wren visited Paris, where he made the acquaintance of Bernini, architect of the Louvre, and of other distinguished men. In the following year he returned to find the royal society earnestly engaged.in searching out the causes of the great plague, so soon to be succeeded by the great fire which laid London in ashes. This disaster at once opened a wide field for the exertion of Wren's genius. He formed a plan, and drew designs for the entire rebuilding of the metropolis, embracing wide streets, mag nificent quays along the banks of the river, and other well•considered impiovements. In rebuilding London, however, few of Wren's recommendations were adopted. He was certainly chosen to be the architect of new St. Paul's, one of the finest non-Gothic cathedrals in the world; besides which, he designed more than 50 other churches in place of those destroyed by the fire. The great church of St. Paul, built on the model of St. Peter's at Rome, was begun in 1675, and completed in 1710, when the last stone was laid upon the lantern by the architect's son, Christopher. Besides the numerous churches mentioned, Wren built the royal exchange, London, in 1667; custom-house, London, in 1668; Temple Bar in 1670; the monument, in 1671-77; the college of physi_ clans in 1674-98; the royal observatory, Greenwich, in 1675; the gateway tower, Christ church, Oxford, in 1681-82; Chelsea hospital, 1682-90; Ashmolean museum, Oxford, 1683; Hampton court, 1690; Morden college, Blackheath, 1692; Greenwich hospital, 1696; I3ucktugham house, 1703; Marlborough house, 1709; the towers at the w. front of Westminster abbey in 1713; besides the 1111 finished palace of Winchester, in 1683.
In 1672 Wren received the honor of knighthood. In 1674 he married Faith, daugh ter of sir John Coghill, by whom he had a son, Christopher, who survived him; and his wife dying, he married, in 1679, Jane, daughter of viscount Fitzwilliain, by whom he had issue, a son and daughter. In 1680, Wren was elected president of the royal society. In 1684 he was made controller of the works at Windsor castle; and in 1685 lie was elected grand master of the order of freemasons. He was also elected a mem ber of the house of commons for New Windsor in 1689, and being unseated on peti tion, was immediately re-elected for the same place. In 1698 he was appointed sur veyor-general of the works and repairs at the abbey of St. Peter, Westminster; and in the same year, was again elected grand master of the freemasons. Wren died in his chair after dinner, 25, 1723, aged 90 years, and was buried in St. Paul's cathedral, where the appropriate inscription of "Simonumentum requiris, circumspice," marks his tomb. During his declining years, he was treated with neglect, and even injus- • tice, by the court of England; " one Benson" was appointed by George I. to supersede him in the office of surveyor-general; and some private individuals carped at his works in a most malevolent spirit. Steele, however, vindicated the fame of his friend in the Taller, in which Wren is introduced in the character of Nestor; and few have been found since that time hardy enough to call in question the well-merited reputation of sir Christopher Wren as a distinguished architect, mathematician, and scientific observer..