Research on Wren Home Wren Biography Career Links   Martin Centre   Email		Architectural Career This page lists the official architectural posts that Wren. A list of the buildings for which he could be described "architect" is provided in architectural works. Wren's architectural career started with single small commissions like Pembroke Chapel and the Shedlonian Theatre. As is shown below official posts followed fast and by 1675 Wren was by far the most important architect in England. Official Appointments Commissioner for Rebuilding the City of London (1666-7) Appointed along with Pratt and May to join three nominees from the City and carry out a survey of the area destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. The Committee was also responsible for helping to draft the Rebuilding Act of 1667. This appointed Robert Hooke, Edward Jerman and Peter Mills as Surveyors and it was they who thereafter oversaw the day-to-day rebuilding. Surveyor of St Paul's Cathedral (1668-1675)(unofficial until 1669) The surveyorship of St Paul's was traditionally held by the Surveyor of the King's Works, but Wren was increasingly involved in overseeing the project for rebuilding. He has been consulted in 1663 over repairs to the old cathedral, and on his return from Paris in 1666 had prepared an elaborate scheme for rebuilding the central crossing. Two reasons can be put forward for Wren's involvement in 1668: firstly Denham, the current Surveyor was ill and secondly Wren was good friends with the current Dean. On Denham's death in 1669, with the reversion of the office of Surveyor-General of the King's Works to Wren it was natural that he should take over responsibilities at St Paul's. From 1669 he is referred to as Surveyor. Surveyor-General of the King's Works(1669-1718). Wren's most important post and the one that determined his career as an architect, came as an act of preferment directly from the King, who asked Denham to name Wren as his successor only months before his death in March 1669. The King had offered Wren the Surveyorship before in 1661 on Denham's death on the condition that Wren oversaw the fortification of Tangier, but Wren had declined. Initially Wren appointed Edward Bernard as his deputy, presumably to allow him to teach in Oxford during term. An important feature of the post was that it came with a house in Whitehall and a set of offices attached. It was here Wren was to live and direct the major works under his control. The post carried with it responsibility for the upkeep and repair of all the Royal Palaces excluding Greenwich (the Survivorship of which was given to John Webb) and Windsor (the Comptrollership of which went to Hugh May), both of which would later revert to Wren. Although it carried prestige and a reasonable salary, running the King's Works involved an enormous quantity of day-to-day administration which made it increasingly difficult for Wren to spend any time in Oxford. He was forced to resign his professorship there in 1673. Surveyor for Rebuilding the City Churches(1670-1711). Wren was appointed "to direct and order the dimensions, formes and Modells of the said Churches". Hooke and Edward Woodroffe were appointed as his assistants. The office Wren set up in Whitehall oversaw the rebuilding of fifty churches. Surveyor for the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral (1675-1723) Wren had been arguing for the necessity of demolishing the old cathedral and rebuilding since the Fire but it was only in 1675 that plans were approved and that he was finally officially appointed to oversee the demolition of the old building and the construction of the new which he did from an office he set up on the south side of the cathedral. Comptroller of the Works at Windsor (1684-1716) On Denham's death the comptrollership of Windsor Castle had passed to Hugh May. On his death it went to Wren. By 1716 when he retired Wren was increasingly frail. Surveyor of Greenwich Naval Hospital (1696-1716) On Denham's death the comptrollership of Windsor Castle had passed to John Webb. On his death it went to Wren who held the post until he resigned in 1716. Surveyor of Westminster Abbey (1699-1723) Parliament voted money for the repair of the abbey in 1699 and Wren was appointed to oversee the works. He retained the position until his death. For more information on Wren see Professional Career, scientific work and buildings James Campbell October 2000