Architect Physics Astronomy Mathematics Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, London Active Member of Parliament for Old Windsor in 1680, 1689 and 1690. Founder/Co-Founder: Royal Society [1660] Knighted on November 14, 1673.  Profile of Works (*) · In 1662, Wren first ventured into architecture and subsequently designed the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, a building intended for university ceremonies. This work earned him much acclaim as an architect. · In 1665, Wren toured France for several months to acquire knowledge about the French Renaissance and Baroque architecture. This journey proved to be a rich source of inspiration for him and had significant influence on his future works. · The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed much of London and reduced most of the city to a smoking desert. Subsequently, Wren was chosen by King Charles II as a member of the commission created to undertake the reconstruction of  the city. · Being one of the chief architects on the committee, Wren was given the responsibility to replace the 87 parish churches demolished by the Great Fire. In 1669, he was appointed ‘Surveyor of Works’ to Charles II, a post which he held until 1718. · By 1670, Wren was also working on designs for a new St. Paul's Cathedral, which eventually materialized into his masterpiece. While working on the City Churches, he also undertook several other projects. · Some other examples of Wren's brilliant architecture are the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, the library at Trinity    College, and the Royal Naval Hospital at Greenwich. He was also responsible for remodeling the south front of Hampton Court Palace. · Between 1670 and 1686, Sir Wren designed 51 new churches for the city of London which are today known as the ‘City Churches’. Work on the City Churches established him as one of England’s leading architects. St. Paul's Cathedral, which took nearly 35 years to build, is considered Wren's masterpiece. With its splendid dome, remarkable scale, and theatrical grandeur, the design of St. Paul's signifies the influence of French and Italian architecture.