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Bishop Wilkins , jand Seth Wood , Savilian professor of astronomy . A philosopher and mathematician of the age of sixteen was a phenomenon ; and even before then he had been distinguished by his proficiency in anatomy , and had been employed by Sir Charles Scarborough as his demonstrating assistant . In 1645 , Wren formed one
of a sort of club of scientific men , chiefly connected with Gresham College , who met weekly for the discussion of all subjects relating to philosophical inquiries , and from which meetings originated the "Royal Society . " In 1653 , Wren was elected a Fellow of AH Souls ' College , Oxford . By the time he was twenty-four , he was known to the learned of Europe by his various theories , inventions , and
improvements . He had imbibed the true spirit of Bacon , and now applied himself to the prosecution of experimental science in the true spirit of the Baconian philosophy ;—reasoning gradually from effects to causes , instead of labouring to detect a general cause , in order to pursue it into its consequences . In his twenty-fifth year , Wren left his retirement at Oxford for the more extended field of
the metropolis , being chosen in 1657 to fill the " professor ' s chair of astronomy at Gresham College . His inaugural oration in Latin at once established his reputation , and his lectures were attended by the most eminent and learned persons of the time . In this discourse , among other things , he proposed several methods by which to account by the laws of nature , for the shadow returning backward ten degrees on the dial of King Ahaz . One subject of discussion was the
telescope , to the improvement of which he greatly contributed . Another head comprised certain properties of the air , and the barometer . In 1658 Wren acquired fresh fame as a mathematician , by the solution of the celebrated problem of Pascal , who had challenged the learned of all England for a solution ; and in return Wren proposed another to the mathematicians of Erance , which had formerly been proposed by Kepler , and solved by himself geometrically ; but this challenge was never answered .
Wren ' s pursuits were alien to the fury of party and the politics of the day , and to this , and his connection with Claypole , it is probable he owed his escape from that persecution to which the other members of his family were exposed . On the death of Cromwell he fled from
London to Oxford , where he remained during the confusion that ensued ; and soon after the return of Charles II ., he was chosen to fill the Savilian professor ' s chair at Oxford , then one of the highest distinctions that could be conferred on a scientific person . About this time Wren discovered a method for the calculation of solar
eclipses ;—he devised many curious machines in order to illustrate the temperature , weather , productions , and diseases of the " seasons , " of which he wrote a history ; he improved the pendulum , and originated its use as a natural standard for measure . He effected
many improvements in the theory of navigation , and in making astronomical observations ; he invented the art of engraving in mezzotint ; and from 1660 to 1720 he employed himself in a series of papers on longitude . To enter into a detail of all the studies and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
Bishop Wilkins , jand Seth Wood , Savilian professor of astronomy . A philosopher and mathematician of the age of sixteen was a phenomenon ; and even before then he had been distinguished by his proficiency in anatomy , and had been employed by Sir Charles Scarborough as his demonstrating assistant . In 1645 , Wren formed one
of a sort of club of scientific men , chiefly connected with Gresham College , who met weekly for the discussion of all subjects relating to philosophical inquiries , and from which meetings originated the "Royal Society . " In 1653 , Wren was elected a Fellow of AH Souls ' College , Oxford . By the time he was twenty-four , he was known to the learned of Europe by his various theories , inventions , and
improvements . He had imbibed the true spirit of Bacon , and now applied himself to the prosecution of experimental science in the true spirit of the Baconian philosophy ;—reasoning gradually from effects to causes , instead of labouring to detect a general cause , in order to pursue it into its consequences . In his twenty-fifth year , Wren left his retirement at Oxford for the more extended field of
the metropolis , being chosen in 1657 to fill the " professor ' s chair of astronomy at Gresham College . His inaugural oration in Latin at once established his reputation , and his lectures were attended by the most eminent and learned persons of the time . In this discourse , among other things , he proposed several methods by which to account by the laws of nature , for the shadow returning backward ten degrees on the dial of King Ahaz . One subject of discussion was the
telescope , to the improvement of which he greatly contributed . Another head comprised certain properties of the air , and the barometer . In 1658 Wren acquired fresh fame as a mathematician , by the solution of the celebrated problem of Pascal , who had challenged the learned of all England for a solution ; and in return Wren proposed another to the mathematicians of Erance , which had formerly been proposed by Kepler , and solved by himself geometrically ; but this challenge was never answered .
Wren ' s pursuits were alien to the fury of party and the politics of the day , and to this , and his connection with Claypole , it is probable he owed his escape from that persecution to which the other members of his family were exposed . On the death of Cromwell he fled from
London to Oxford , where he remained during the confusion that ensued ; and soon after the return of Charles II ., he was chosen to fill the Savilian professor ' s chair at Oxford , then one of the highest distinctions that could be conferred on a scientific person . About this time Wren discovered a method for the calculation of solar
eclipses ;—he devised many curious machines in order to illustrate the temperature , weather , productions , and diseases of the " seasons , " of which he wrote a history ; he improved the pendulum , and originated its use as a natural standard for measure . He effected
many improvements in the theory of navigation , and in making astronomical observations ; he invented the art of engraving in mezzotint ; and from 1660 to 1720 he employed himself in a series of papers on longitude . To enter into a detail of all the studies and