WREN, SIR CHRISTOPHER, an English architect; born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England, Oct. 20, 1632; was educated at Wadham College, Oxford; became a fellow of All Souls in was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in 1657, and three years afterward was elected Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. He had been appointed by Charles II. to re store old St. Paul's, but after the great fire (1666) it became necessary to re build the cathedral. In preparing his plans he was considerably hampered by the ecclesiastical authority, but with the king's permission he modified and im proved the design as the building pro ceeded. Thus, the division of the ex terior into two orders of columns, and the present dome and drum on which it stands, were alterations on the original plan. The cathedral was begun in 1675, and the architect saw the last stone laid by his son 35 years after ward. Among the other notable build
ings which Wren designed are: The modern part of the palace at Hampton Court, the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, the hospitals of Chelsea and Greenwich, the churches of St. Ste phen's, Walbrook; St. Mary le-bow; St.
Michael, Cornhill; St. Bride, Fleet street; as also the campanile of Christ Church, Oxford. In 1680 he was chosen president of the Royal Society, appointed in 1708 surveyor of the royal works, and from 1685 to 1700 represented various boroughs in Parliament. He died in Hampton Court, Feb. 25, 1723. Over the N. doorway of St. Paul's is a memorial tablet on which are the well known words: "Si monumentum re quirts, circuinspwe" (If you demand a monument, look round). See SAINT PAUL'S.