master of
science. Wren took advantage of his opportunities, and became so
well known for his acquirements in mathematics and his successful
experiments in natural science that he was elected to a Fellowship at
All Souls'. A few years later he was appointed to the Professorship of
Astronomy at Gresham College, and his brilliant reputation made his
rooms a meeting-place of the men who subsequently founded the Royal
Society. A fresh preferment, that to the Chair of Savilian Professor
of Astronomy at Oxford, did not hinder him from pursuing a fresh line.
His father, as we have said, taught him to draw, his mathematical
skill guided his judgment in construction, and these two acquirements
turned him more and more towards architecture, though even now he was
held second only to Newton as a philosopher. His first appearance
as an architect was his acceptance of the post of Surveyor of King
Charles II.'s public works. This was in 1661. He lost no time in
starting in his new profession, for in 1663 he designed the chapel of
Pembroke College, Cambridge, which his uncle Matthew gave, and the
Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford. This, then, brings him down to the
survey of St. Paul's above named. It was carefully made, and presented
in May, 1666. How he designed to rebuild some portions which were
decayed, to introduce more light, to cut off the corners of the cross
and erect a central dome--all this boots not now to tell. The plans
were drawn, and estimates were ordered on Monday, August 27th, 1666.

But before another week had passed an effectual end was put for many a
day to all plans for the "repair of the cathedral." Pepys begins his
diary of September 2nd with the following words:--"Lord's Day.--Some
of our maids sitting up late last night to get things ready against
our feast to-day, Jane calls us up about three in the morning to tell
us of a great fire they saw in the City; so I rose and slipped on my
night-gown and went to her window, and thought it to be on the back
of Mark Lane at the farthest." He thought this was far enough off and
went to bed again. But next day he realises that it is all a terrible
business, and so he goes on to tell how he walked about the streets
and in some places burned his shoes; went on the river, where the
hot fiery flakes pursued him; went to the King and gave advice and
received instructions; met the Lord Mayor who seemed out of his
senses. So he goes on with his well-known description until Sept