Wren, Sir Christopher

Sir Christopher (1632-1723), the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. He was educated at Oxford. In his young manhood he wrote treatises on trigonometry and algebra, gaining for himself membership in the Philosophical Society at London. He sat in Parliament. While preparing plans in 1663 for the restoration of St. Paul's Cathedral, the building was destroyed by fire. He had the honor of planning and of completing the present structure, considered by many one of the great buildings of the world. Although he was the architect of other buildings, notably the library at Trinity College and the campanile of Christ's Church at Oxford, his name is connected chiefly with St. Paul's. He appears to have traveled in France but not in Italy. He was buried under the choir of the cathedral. The choir entrance bears a Latin inscription which may be translated as follows: "Beneath is laid the builder of this church and city, Christopher Wren, who lived above ninety years, not for himself, but for the public good. Reader, if thou seekest his monument, look about thee." See St. Paul'S