WREN, Sir Christopher (1632-1723), of Scotland Yard, Whitehall

Family and Education

b. 20 Oct. 1632, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Dr Christopher Wren, dean of Windsor 1635, by Mary, da. and h. of Robert Cox of Fonthill, Wilts. educ. privately (Rev. William Shepheard, MA); Westminster 1641–6; Wadham, Oxf. 1649, BA 1651, MA 1653, DCL 1661; Camb. Univ. MA 1664; L. Inn 1676. m. (1) 7 Dec. 1669, Faith (d. 1675), da. of Sir John Coghill of Bletchingdon, Oxon., 2s. (1 d.v.p.); (2) 24 Feb. 1677, Jane (d. 1680), da. of William Fitzwilliam†, 2nd Baron Fitzwilliam of Lifford [I], sis. of Hon. Charles† and William Fitzwilliam†, 3rd Baron Fitzwilliam of Lifford [I], 1s. 1da. d.v.p. suc. fa. 1658; Kntd. 20 Nov. 1673. C. Wren, Parentalia, 181; M. S. Briggs, Wren, 13; Genealogists’ Mag. iii. 83–84; Recs. Old Westminsters, ii. 1024; H. F. Hutchinson, Wren, 22; info. from Dr D. F. Lemmings; Temple Church (Harl. Soc. Reg. n.s. i), 62; Wren Soc. xix. 153; L. Phillimore, Wren, 300.

Offices Held

Fellow, All Souls, Oxf. 1653–61; prof. of astronomy, Gresham Coll. London 1657–61; Savilian prof. of astronomy, Oxf. Univ. 1661–73.

FRS 1663, pres. 1680–2.

Commr. to report on rebuilding St. Paul’s May 1666; surveyor of St. Paul’s 1666–d.; royal commr. surveying fire damage Oct. 1666–7; surveyor for rebuilding parochial churches 1670–d.; dep. surveyor-gen. of works Mar. 1669, surveyor-gen. 1669–1718; comptroller of works, Windsor Castle 1684–1716; commr. Chelsea Hosp. 1691–1715; surveyor, Greenwich Hosp. 1694–1716; surveyor-gen. Westminster Abbey 1698–d.; commr. building 50 new churches 1711–15. H. Colvin, Biog. Dict. Brit. Architects, 919–20; Briggs, 42, 44, 47, 64, 67; CSP Dom. 1668–9, p. 224; Cal. Treas. Bks. xxii. 322; C. G. T. Dean, Chelsea Hosp. 125, 168, 178; Boyer, Pol. State, xxv. 231–2; E. G. W. Bill, Q. Anne Churches, p. xxiii.

Curator, Sheldonian theatre 1670–d.; vice-pres. Sons of the Clergy 1678–83, 1722–d.; council, Hudson’s Bay Co. 1679–83; trustee, Friendly Soc. 1687–?1704. Wood, Life and Times, ii. 197; Hearne Colls. viii. 51; E. H. Pearce, Sons of the Clergy, 286–7; E. E. Rich, Mins. Hudson’s Bay Co. 1679–82, p. 345.

Freeman, Winchester 1683, Plympton 1685, New Windsor by 1689. Hants RO, Winchester corp. recs. ass, bk. 5, f. 152; R. R. Tighe and J. E. Davis, Annals of Windsor, ii. 442.

Parlimentarian

WREN, Sir Christopher (1632-1723), of Scotland Yard, Whitehall.

Main residence: Scotland Yard, Whitehall.

Author

S.N.H.

Volume

Commons 1690-1715

Web Title

WREN, Sir Christopher (1632-1723)

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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