Sir Christopher Wren was born on October 20, 1632, in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England. He came from a family with a strong academic background, and his father was a rector and later became the Dean of Windsor. Christopher attended Westminster School in London between 1641 and 1646 and in 1650 enrolled at Wadham College, Oxford. He had a strong interest in mathematics and the sciences, and he was exposed to some of the leading scientific thinkers of his time, including Thomas Willis and Robert Boyle. After graduation with an M.A. in 1653, Wren embarked on research in physiology at Oxford. Four years later, he was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, London. It was during this time that he, and colleagues from other scientific disciplines founded the Royal Society that was to become the organization dedicated to the development of the scientific method and scientific learning. Decades later he would serve as its President between 1680 and 1682,
Around the mid 1660s, Wren began to focus on architecture. He traveled to Paris in 1665 to study classical architecture and design. On his return to England, he became involved in various architectural projects, including the design of the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and the Pembroke College Chapel. However, the opportunity to showcase his architectural talents came after the Great Fire of London in 1666, when he was appointed as the chief architect for the reconstruction of the city.
HIs most famous work became the design and construction of St. Paul’s Cathedral, that engaged him for most of his future career. The cathedral is known for its iconic dome and is considered one of the greatest architectural achievements of the English Baroque period. In addition to St. Paul’s, Wren designed numerous other churches, public buildings, and private residences in London. He was also involved in the design of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and Chelsea Hospital, among others. His style has often been described as a blend of classical and Baroque elements.
Christopher Wren became Sir Christopher Wren on November 14, 1673 when knighted by King Charles II. Apart from his architectural work, Christopher Wren had made significant contributions to science, across a wide range of fields including astronomy, optics, cosmology, mechanics, microscopy, medicine and meteorology. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects in English history, and his works have had a lasting impact on the city of London.
In his later years, Wren would make frequent pilgrimages to St. Paul’s Cathedral to observe progress on its construction. It was on one such trip that he caught a cold from which he died, at the age of 90, on February 25, 1723. He was interred shortly after in St. Paul’s Cathedral and the completion of his life’s work was left to his son, whom he had trained as an architect. Summarizing the task of the architect, Wren once observed, “The secret of architectural excellence is to translate the proportions of a dachshund into bricks, mortar and marble.”
