Christopher Wren
English architect, astronomer, mathematician and physicist; master of English Baroque; rebuilt 52 churches after the Great Fire of London.
Godfrey Kneller · via Wikipedia: Christopher Wren · Public domain
He was responsible for rebuilding 52 churches in London after the Great Fire of 1666, including his masterpiece St Paul's Cathedral.[1] Wren helped establish the Royal Society and held its presidency from 1680 through 1682.[2]
Quick Facts
- Born
- 30 October, 1632, 20 October
- Birthplace
- East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England
- Place of death
- St James's, London, England
- Resting place
- St Paul's Cathedral, London
- Field
- Architecture
- physics
- astronomy
- mathematics
- Academic advisors
- William Oughtred
- Workplaces
- All Souls' College, Oxford
- Education
- Wadham College, Oxford
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
He graduated B.A. in 1651 and received M.A. two years later.[3] He died in his sleep at age ninety on 25 February 1723 and was laid to rest in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral.[4][5] Wren became Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford in 1661, and eight years later, in 1669, Charles II appointed him Surveyor of Works.[6] On 14 November 1673, after stepping down from the Savilian chair, Wren received a knighthood.[7]
Wren was elected to Parliament for Plympton Erle in 1685, and later served as MP for New Windsor and for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.[8] In 1677 Wren married Jane Fitzwilliam; she is thought to have died from tuberculosis in September 1680.[9][10]
What the cited sources add
The Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre notes that through Wren's associations with Sir Stephen Fox, the church at Farley and its almshouses likely have elements of his design.[11] A 2023 Guide London article states that Wren was not trained as an architect but as a scientist, educated at Westminster School and Oxford University.[12] The same source reports that Wren's first marriage to Faith Coghill produced two sons, one who died young and a younger Christopher who worked as an architect.[12] The Wren family history website notes that Wren's son William was called "Poor Billy," was probably handicapped, and apparently never married.[13]
A Richmond and Twickenham Times article states that Wren lived at The Old Court House in Hampton Court in the early 18th century.[14]
References
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wells, "Longman Pronunciation Dictionary", Longman, 2008, p. 908; "Sir Christopher Wren English architect"; "Sir Christopher Wren English architect"; "Sir Christopher Wren English architect"; "6. The western towers, c.1685–1710 – St Paul's Cathedral", Stpauls.co.uk; "Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723)" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Sir Christopher Wren English architect" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Downes, "Christopher Wren", Oxford University Press, 2007 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Memorials of St Paul's Cathedral" Sinclair, W. p. 469: London; Chapman & Hall, Ltd; 1909.; "Discover the Crypt – St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK", stpauls.co.uk; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Tinniswood, "His Invention So Fertile: A Life of Christopher Wren", Pimlico, 2002, p. 115–129 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Meridew, "A Catalogue of Engraved Portraits of Nobility, Gentry, Clergymen and Others, Born, Resident In, Or Connected with the County of Warwick: Alphabetically Arranged, with Names of the Painters and Engravers, ... to (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Sir Christopher Wren, 1632–1723", The History of Parliament; "Cambridge University, 1660–1690", The History of Parliament; "Oxford University, 1660–1690", The History of Parliament; "Plympton Erle, 1660–1690", The History of Parliament; "New Windsor, 1660–1690", The History of Parliament; "New Windsor, 1690–1715", The History of Parliament (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Christopher Wren - Biography", Maths History; "FITZWILLIAM, Hon. Charles (c.1646-89), of Stamford Baron, Lincs." (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Christopher Wren" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Lerner, "Sir Christopher Wren – London's Greatest Architect", Guide London, 3 February 2023 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Question: Wren's connection with Wiltshire", Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, 17 May 2003. facts only, no text reused. apps.wiltshire.gov.uk
- Lerner, "Sir Christopher Wren – London's Greatest Architect", Guide London, 3 February 2023. facts only, no text reused. guidelondon.org.uk
- "Wren family history", bedfordpark.net. facts only, no text reused. bedfordpark.net
- Buchanan, "Sir Christopher Wren's magnificent home up for sale", Richmond and Twickenham Times, 11 April 2013. facts only, no text reused. richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Christopher Wren (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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