Sir Christopher Wren, the Man Who Rebuilt London After the Fire

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, Sir Christopher Wren designed new churches and supervised the reconstruction of some of London's most important buildings. His name is synonymous with London architecture.

Background

Born: October 20, 1632, at East Knoyle in Wiltshire, England

Died: February 25, 1723, in London (age 91)

Tombstone Epitaph (translated from Latin) in St. Paul's Cathedral, London:

"Underneath lies buried Christopher Wren, the builder of this church and city; who lived beyond the age of ninety years, not for himself, but for the public good. If you seek his memorial, look about you."

Early Training

Sickly as a child, Christopher Wren began his education at home with his father and a tutor. Later, he attended school outside of home.

• Westminster School: Wren may have done some studies here between 1641 and 1646.
• Oxford: Began astronomy studies in 1649. Received B.A. in 1651, M.A. in 1653

After graduation, Wren worked on astronomy research and became a Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in London and later at Oxford. As an astronomer, the future architect developed exceptional skills working with models and diagrams, experimenting with creative ideas, and engaging in scientific reasoning.

Wren's Early Buildings

In the 17th century, architecture was considered a pursuit that could be practiced by any gentleman educated in the field of mathematics. Christopher Wren began designing buildings when his uncle, the Bishop of Ely, asked him to plan a new chapel for Pembroke College, Cambridge.

• 1663-1665: New chapel for Pembroke College, Cambridge
• 1664-1668: Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

King Charles II commissioned Wren to repair St. Paul's Cathedral. In May 1666, Wren submitted plans for a classical design with a high dome. Before this work could proceed, the fire destroyed the Cathedral and much of London.

When Wren Rebuilt London

In September 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 churches, St. Paul's Cathedral, and most of London's official buildings.

Christopher Wren proposed an ambitious plan that would rebuild London with wide streets radiating from a central hub. Wren's plan failed, probably because property owners wanted to keep the same land they owned before the fire. However, Wren did design 51 new city churches and the new St Paul's Cathedral.

In 1669, King Charles II hired Wren to oversee the reconstruction of all the royal works (government buildings).

Notable Buildings

• 1670-1683: St. Mary Le Bow, at Cheapside, London, UK
• 1671-1677: Monument to the Great Fire of London, with Robert Hooke
• 1671-1681: St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London
• 1672-1687: St. Stephen's Walbrook, London
• 1674-1687: St. James, at Picadilly, London
• 1675-1676: Royal Observatory, Greenwich, UK
• 1675-1710: Saint Paul's Cathedral, London
• 1677: Rebuilt St. Lawrence Jewry, London
• 1680: St. Clement Danes, at Strand, London
• 1682: Christ Church College Bell Tower, Oxford, UK
• 1695: Royal Hospital Chelsea, with John Soane
• 1696-1715: Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, UK

Architectural Style

• Classical: Christopher Wren was familiar with the 1st Century Roman architect Vitruvius and the Renaissance thinker Giacomo da Vignola, who outlined Vitruvius's ideas in "The Five Orders of Architecture." Wren's first buildings were inspired by the classical works of English architect Inigo Jones.
• Baroque: Early in his career, Wren traveled to Paris, studied French baroque architecture, and met the Italian Baroque architect Gianlorenzo Bernini.

Christopher Wren used baroque ideas with classical restraint. His style influenced Georgian architecture in England and the American colonies.

Scientific Achievements

Christopher Wren was trained as a mathematician and scientist. His research, experiments, and inventions won the praise of the great scientists Sir Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal. In addition to many important mathematical theories, Sir Christopher:

• built a transparent beehive to help study bees
• invented a weather clock similar to the barometer
• invented an instrument for writing in the dark
• developed improvements in the telescope and the microscope
• experimented with injecting fluids into the veins of animals, laying the groundwork for successful blood transfusion
• constructed a detailed model of the moon

Awards and Achievements

• 1673: Knighted
• 1680: Founded the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge. Served as president from 1680 to 1682.
• 1680, 1689 and 1690: Served as a Member of Parliament for Old Windsor

Quotes Attributed to Sir Christopher Wren

"A time will come when men will stretch out their eyes. They should see planets like our Earth."

"Architecture has its political Use; public buildings being the ornament of a country; it establishes a nation, draws people and commerce; makes the people love their native country, which passion is the origin of all great actions in a Commonwealth...architecture aims at eternity."

"In things to be seen at once, much variety makes confusion, another vice of beauty. In things that are not seen at once, and have no respect one to another, great variety is commendable, provided this variety transgress not the rules of optics and geometry."

Sources

"Architecture & Buildings." Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2019.

Barozzi da Vignola, Giacomo. "Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture." Dover Architecture, 1st edition, Dover Publications, February 15, 2012.

"Christopher Wren 1632–1723." Oxford Reference, 2019.

"Geometry quotes." MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, Scotland, February 2019.

Geraghty, Anthony. "The Architectural Drawings of Sir Christopher Wren at All Souls College, Oxford: A Complete Catalogue." Reinterpreting Classicism: Culture, Reaction & Appropriation, Lund Humphries, December 28, 2007.

"Greenwich Hospital." Great Buildings, 2013.

Jardine, Lisa. "On a Grander Scale: The Outstanding Life of Sir Christopher Wren." Hardcover, 1 Edition, Harper, January 21, 2003.

Schofield, John. "St Paul's Cathedral: archaeology and history." 1st Edition, Oxbow Books; 1st edition, September 16, 2016.

Tinniswood, Adrian. "His Invention So Fertile: A Life of Christopher Wren by Adrian Tinniswood." Paperback, Pimlico, 1765.

Whinney, Margaret. "Wren." Paperback, Thames & Hudson Ltd, May 1, 1998.

"Windows." St Lawrence Jewry.