Wren, Sir Christopher

Wren, Sir Christopher (1632-1723), architect, b. East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England.

Christopher Wren was a brilliant scientist and skilled in mathematics.

By the time he was twenty-five he was a professor of astronomy in London and, three years later, he became a professor at Oxford.

Already he had become interested in the design of buildings and in 1663 he designed the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford.

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, he drew up plans for an entirely new city -  akin to the clean layout of New York City - but his plans were not used. London was rebuilt very much as it was before with twisting streets and alleyways you can still see today.

But Wren was given the job of rebuilding fifty-one churches in London as well as designing Temple Bar (the gate between Westminster and London) and the Monument, a column in memory of the Fire. This work was carried out from 1670-85, and during this period Wren was also occupied with his biggest job, building a new St. Paul's Cathedral. Building began in 1675 and didn't finish until 1711.

The new St. Paul's Cathedral cost £736,000. In 1669, Wren was appointed Surveyor to the King and knighted.

Among his other work was the library at Trinity College, Cambridge, Chelsea Hospital and the Royal Observatory and Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

He is buried in a crypt below St. Paul's in a plain tomb. It bears these words in Latin: 'LECTOR, SI MONUMENTUM REQUIRIS, CIRCUMSPICE' - 'Reader, if you seek his memorial – look around you.'

See Lisa Jardine On a Grander Scale: The Outstanding Life and Tumultuous Times of Sir Christopher Wren