Editing Christopher Wren (section)

===1653–1664===
[[File:Templeofrosycross.png|alt=Wren was part of the group around John Wilkins, known as the Invisible College. This is the emblematic image of a Rosicrucian College, an illustration from Speculum sophicum Rhodo-stauroticum, a 1618 work by Theophilus Schweighardt.|thumb|Wren was part of the group around [[John Wilkins]], known as the [[Invisible College]].  This is the emblematic image of a [[Rosicrucian]] College, an illustration from ''Speculum sophicum Rhodo-stauroticum'', a 1618 work by [[Theophilus Schweighardt]]. ]]
After receiving his [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] in 1653, Wren was elected a fellow of [[All Souls College, Oxford|All Souls' College]] in the same year and began an active period of research and experiment in Oxford.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bolton|first=Glorney|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QCkRAQAAMAAJ|title=Sir Christopher Wren|date=1956|publisher=Hutchinson|pages=37|language=en}}</ref> Among these were a number of physiological experiments on dogs, including one now recognized as the first injection of fluids into the bloodstream of a live animal under laboratory conditions. At Oxford he became part of the group around [[John Wilkins]], he was key to the correspondence network known as the [[Invisible College]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Higgitt |first=Rebekah |date=2014-10-20 |title=Google Doodle forgets to celebrate Christopher Wren the man of science |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/the-h-word/2014/oct/20/google-doodle-forgets-to-celebrate-christopher-wren-the-man-of-science |access-date=2023-02-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>  Within the arms of All Souls, the arms of Wren's friend [[Robert Boyle]] appear in the colonnade of the Great Quadrangle, opposite the arms of the [[Rowland Hill (MP)|Hill]] family of [[Shropshire]], close by a sundial designed by Boyle's friend Wren.<ref>{{Cite web |last=History of Science Museum Oxford University |title=The Virtual Oxford Science Walk |url=https://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/features/walk/loc5.htm |archive-url=}}</ref>
[[File:Christopher Wren's home in Hampton, UK.jpg|thumb|Christopher Wren's home in Hampton, UK. It is located opposite the Hampton Court Palace's main gate.]]
His days as a fellow of All Souls ended when Wren was appointed Professor of Astronomy at [[Gresham College]], London, in 1657.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Tinniswood|first=Adrian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=en46Z3_MHSAC|title=His Invention So Fertile: A Life of Christopher Wren|date=2002|publisher=Pimlico|isbn=978-0-7126-7364-8|pages=115–129|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Rabbitts|first=Paul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lK13DwAAQBAJ|title=Sir Christopher Wren|year=2019|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-78442-323-0|pages=13|language=en}}</ref> He was there provided with a set of rooms and a stipend and required to give weekly lectures in both Latin and English.<ref name=":1" /> Wren took up this new work with enthusiasm. He continued to meet the men with whom he had frequent discussions in Oxford. They attended his London lectures and in 1660, initiated formal weekly meetings. It was from these meetings that the Royal Society, England's premier scientific body, was to develop. He undoubtedly played a major role in the early life of what would become the Royal Society; his great breadth of expertise in so many different subjects helped in the exchange of ideas between the various scientists. In fact, the report on one of these meetings reads:

{{blockquote|Memorandum November 28, 1660. These persons following according to the usual custom of most of them, met together at Gresham College to hear Mr Wren's lecture, viz. The [[William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker|Lord Brouncker]], [[Robert Boyle|Mr Boyle]], [[Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine|Mr Bruce]], [[Robert Moray|Sir Robert Moray]], [[Paul Neile|Sir Paule Neile]], [[John Wilkins|Dr Wilkins]], [[Jonathan Goddard|Dr Goddard]], [[William Petty|Dr Petty]], [[William Ball (astronomer)|Mr Ball]], [[Lawrence Rooke|Mr Rooke]], Mr Wren, [[Abraham Hill|Mr Hill]]. And after the lecture was ended they did according to the usual manner, withdraw for mutual converse.<ref name=MacTutor>{{cite web |url=http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Wren.html |title=Sir Christopher Wren |work=The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive |access-date=30 September 2006}}</ref>}}

In 1662, they proposed a society "for the promotion of Physico-Mathematicall Experimental Learning". This body received its Royal Charter from [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] and "The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge" was formed. In addition to being a founder member of the Society, Wren was president of the Royal Society from 1680 to 1682.<ref name="britannica" />

In 1661, Wren was elected [[Savilian Chair of Astronomy|Savilian Professor]] of [[Astronomy]] at Oxford, and in 1669 he was appointed [[Office of Works|Surveyor of Works]] to Charles II. From 1661 until 1668 Wren's life was based in Oxford, although his attendance at meetings of the Royal Society meant that he had to make periodic trips to London.<ref name=":0" />

The main sources for Wren's scientific achievements are the records of the Royal Society. His scientific works ranged from astronomy, [[optics]], the problem of finding [[longitude]] at sea, [[cosmology]], [[mechanics]], [[microscopy]], [[surveying]], medicine and [[meteorology]]. He observed, measured, dissected, built models and employed, invented and improved a variety of instruments.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Windsor|first=Alan|date=March 1984|title=John Soane: The Making of an Architect Pierre de La Ruffinière Du Prey|journal=Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians|volume=43|issue=1|pages=84–85|doi=10.2307/989987|jstor=989987}}</ref>