![]() Paul's began to demand close to full time. He resigned the Savilian chair when the work on St. Member of the Commission to rebuild London, 1666, author of a radical plan (rejected, of course) to rebuild on a modern plan that discarded the old streets, and then architect of the new St. Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, 1661-73.ĭeputy Surveyor of the Royal Works, 1661-9, then Surveyor, 1669-1718. Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, 1657-61. Secondary: Patronage, Merchant, Publishingįellow of All Souls College, Oxford, 1653-61. Means of Support Primary: Academia, Government In a word he could be listed validly under at least ten sciences.ħ. He studied refraction and optics, lecturing on dioptrics at Gresham College. Before Hooke, he used the microscope to study insects. This included various meteorological instruments Wren could be listed for meteorology for his continued study of it. He was continually active in improving instruments, astronomical first of all, but many others as well. He composed a paper on the laws of impact in 1668, a solution to the problem of perfectly elastic impact. He could be listed as well for physiology in addition to experiments he devised a method to transfuse blood from one animal to another. He did the drawings for Willis's Cerebri anatome. While in Oxford he did important anatomical work in collaboration with others of the Oxford circle. He did a measured survey of the moon that resulted in an improved map of its surface. He composed De corpore saturni, 1657, which he never published and which he abandoned when Huygens' better hypothesis soon came along. He worked out a hypothesis on Saturn, with a model that he built, to represent its strange appearance. ![]() As first Gresham and then Savillian Professor of Astronomy, he developed a graphical method of representing the course (presumed rectilinear) of a comet and a graphical construction of solar eclipses. At 16 he composed a treatise on spherical trigonometry, and a little later he rectified the cycloid. Newton classed him with Huygens and Wallis as one of the leading geometers of the day. Before the fire of London turned him decidedly to architecture, he was a leading scientist although he published almost nothing. Wren is remembered of course as England's great architect he also wrote five unpublished commentaries on the theory of architecture. Subordinate: Anatomy, Mechanics, Instrumentation ![]() Scientific Disciplines Primary: Mathematics, Astronomy, Engineering I don't list either of the honorary degrees.Ħ. In 1649 Wren went to Oxford as a gentleman commoner even though his father had been deprived by the Puritans. Note that Wren's mother was the only child and heiress of a Wiltshire squire. In 1638 he was given the "rich rectory" of Haseley, Oxfordshire.įrom his string of appointments, clearly prosperous. ![]() From the prominent Anglican family which included his brother, Bishop Matthew Wren, the father was also Chaplain to Charles I, would soon be Dean of Windsor (succeeding his brother) and Registrar of the Garter. Christopher Wren was the Rector of East Knoyle. Dates Born: East Knoyle, Wiltshire, 20 October 1632ĭr. ![]()
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