NREN, SIR CHRISTOPHER

NREN, SIR CHRISTOPHER, one of the most learned, scientific, and eminent architects of his age, was the son of Dr Christopher Wren, dean of Windsor, and was born on the 9th of October 1632. He studied at Wadham College, Oxford; where he took the degree of A. M. in 1653, and was chosen fellow of All Souls College. When very young he discovered a surprising genius for the mathematics; in which science he made great advances before he was sixteen years old. In 1657, he was made professor of astronomy at Gresham College, London; but he resigned this office in 1660, on his being chosen to the Savilian professorship of astronomy in Oxford. He was next year created LL. D., and in 1663 was elected fellow of the Royal Society. He was one of the commissioners for the reparation of St Paul's; and in 1665 travelled into France to examine the most beautiful edifices there, when he made many curious observations. At his return to England, he drew a plan for rebuilding the city of London after the fire. This plan he presented to parliament; and upon the decease of Sir John Denham in 1668, was made surveyor-general of his majesty's works. From that time he had the direction of a great number of public edifices, by which he acquired the highest reputation. He built the magnificent theatre at Oxford, St Paul's Cathedral, the churches of St Stephen Walbrook and St Mary-le-Bow; the Monument, the modern part of the palace of Hampton Court, Chelsea College, one of the wings of Greenwich Hospital, and many other beautiful edifices. He was president of the Royal Society, one of the commissioners of Chelsea College, and twice member of parliament, first for Plymouth in Devonshire, and then for Melcombe Regis in the same county. In 1718 he was removed from his place of surveyor-general. He died on the 21st of February 1723, in the ninety-first year of his age, and was interred in the vault under

St Paul's. This eminent man also distinguished himself by many curious inventions and discoveries in natural philosophy; and, among many others, contrived an instrument for measuring the quantity of rain that falls on any space of land for a year. He devised various methods of rendering astronomical observations more accurate and easy; and was the first author of the anatomical experiment of injecting liquors into the veins of animals, &c. He translated into Latin Mr Oughtred's Horologio-graphia Geometrica; and wrote a Survey of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury, and other pieces. After his death his posthumous Works and draughts were published by his son.