Research on Wren Home Wren Biography Career Links   Martin Centre   Email		Scientific Work The main sources for Wren's scientific achievements are the records of the Royal Society, the list recorded in Parentalia and another list in Thomas Sprat's History of the Royal Society. The only overall view of Wren's scientific work is J.A.Bennett The Mathematical science of Christopher Wren Isaac Barrow described Wren when he became Professor of Geometry in 1662 "as one of whom it was doubtful whether he was most to be commended for the divine felicity of his genius or the sweet humanity of his disposition-formerly as a boy a prodigy; now, as a man a miracle, nay, even something superhuman!" From the date we can assume that the justification for this description lay almost entirely on his scientific achievements. The great variety of Wren's scientific interests makes them difficult to list. By no means all of them are dateable: Before University Work on sun-dials As a Student at Oxford Panorganum Astronicum: a model showing the earth, sun and moon in their periodic relationships. Drawings for Thomas Willis's work on the Anatomy of the Brain Invention for numbering the vibrations of a pendulum "To measure the straight distance by travelling the winding way" "To measure the Basis and Height of a mountain, only by journeying over it" "A perspective box, to survey with it." "A Scenographical Instrument, to survey at one station"- this perspective machine is illustrated "strainer of breath, to make the same air serve in respiration" "Ways of submarine navigation" "To stay long underwater" These last three probably all related and growing out a chapter in Wilkins's Mathematical magick (1648) which discusses the difficulties of underwater navigation stating that the greatest problem is respiration Preparation of drawings of microscopical observations (1652) some of which were presented to the King in 1661 As a Fellow of All Souls (1653-7) Preparation of drawings of microscopical observations (from1652) some of which were presented to the King in 1661 Transparent bee-hives (shown to John Evelyn in 1654) Start of Wren's lunar observations (1655) subsequent invention of micrometers for telescopes) Experiments in terrestrial magnetism (1656-7) Experiments in intravenous injection using dogs (1656) Anatomical dissections of animals looking for veins and arteries (1656) Experiments for removal of dog's spleens (n.d.) Experiments in improving lenses (n.d.) As Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College (1657-61) Experiments into magnetic variations for determining longitude (1656) Erection of a 35ft telescope with Sir Paul Neile. Rectification of the cycloid (1658) Observations of Saturn and theory of rings 1654-9 Model of Saturn's rings and lectures by 1659 First recorded consideration of problem of longitude Graphical method for predicting time and extent of solar eclipses Construction of lunar globe 10" in diameter presented to the King in 1661 As Savilian Professor (1661-73) 1661 experiments on elastic impact 1662 experiments with weather glasses (open thermometers) 1663 Weather-clock 1663 circular thermometer 1663 study on the hatching of eggs 1663 Wren working on lunar method of longitude finding-devises an astronomical sector for measurement 1665 double telescope (smaller one to use as sights) 1665 makes exceptionally accurate balances 1665 improvements in microscopes 1665 instrument for measuring humidity 1666 surveying instrument for finding levels 1667 instrument for recording rainfall 1669 invention for grinding hyperbolic lenses 1672 member of committee for finding a lunar method to longitude problem Experiments on muscles in collaboration with Boyle, Willis and Lower Contemplates but probably never builds "Instruments of Respiration, and for straining the breath from fuliginous vapours, to try whether the breath so purif'd will serve again" "New ways of Sailing" "Fabrick for a vessel of war" "the geometry of sailing, swimming, rowing, flying and the frabrick of ships" As Fellow of Royal Society (1673-1723) 1673 discussion with Hooke over the strength of centrifugal forces 1677 Paper delivered to Boyle on the "fabruic of the muscles" 1677 Wren studying the rectilinear motion of comets 1677 Halley visits Wren about inverse-square-law problem 1678 paper on "Theory of Respiration, muscular motion, &c., delivered to Mr Boyle" 1679 Wren demonstrates the use of barometer for weather prediction 1679 attempts to use the Monument as a telescope instruments for finding the way (speed) of a vessel 1703/4 suggestions of using the Bishop's stair in St Paul's as a telescope 1704 experimenting with 5' portable telescopes for finding longitude by measuring Jupiter's satellites at sea 1714 presents ciphers for solution of problems of longitude: one is a screw device for measuring speed mounted in the bow of a ship, the other a clock mounted in a vacuum To see an account of Wren's architectural work go to: Buildings listed according type James Campbell October 2000