Matthew Wren (writer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Wren was an English politician and writer. He is now known as an opponent of James Harrington
, and a monarchist who made qualified use of the ideas of Thomas Hobbes
.
and Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Cutler of Ipswich, and therefore cousin of Sir Christopher Wren. He was educated at both Peterhouse, Cambridge
and the University of Oxford
, graduating M.A. at Oxford on 9 September 1661.
He was secretary to Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, from 1660 to 1667, M.P. for St. Michael
(1661 to 1672), and secretary to James, Duke of York
(1667 to 1672). He was fatally injured accompanying the duke at the Battle of Solebay
in 1672 and died on his return to Greenwich. He was buried with his father at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.
He was one of the council of the Royal Society
named in Charles II's original charter, dated 15 July 1662, and was a prominent member of the Society.
J. G. A. Pocock describes him as the leading contemporary opponent of Harrington, and an illustration in his views of the theory of possessive individualism of C. B. Macpherson
. Francis D. Wormuth writes that Wren reversed the relation between politics and economics found in Harrington. According to I. Bernard Cohen
, Wren may have been the first, in Monarchy Asserted, to apply the term 'revolution' to the English Revolution
. The book was dedicated to John Wilkins
, and Wren's introduction explained that the anonymous Considerations had been taken by Harrington to come from the whole group of Oxford experimentalists around Wilkins (to which Wren belonged, as did his more famous cousin Christopher Wren
).
James Harrington
James Harrington was an English political theorist of classical republicanism, best known for his controversial work, The Commonwealth of Oceana .-Early life:...
, and a monarchist who made qualified use of the ideas of Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury , in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy...
.
Life
He was the eldest child of the Royalist Bishop of Ely Matthew WrenMatthew Wren
"Matthew Wren" is also a British actor who appeared in BBC children's show Trapped!.Matthew Wren was an influential English clergyman and scholar.-Life:...
and Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Cutler of Ipswich, and therefore cousin of Sir Christopher Wren. He was educated at both Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, graduating M.A. at Oxford on 9 September 1661.
He was secretary to Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, from 1660 to 1667, M.P. for St. Michael
Mitchell (UK Parliament constituency)
Mitchell, or St Michael was a rotten borough consisting of the town of Mitchell, Cornwall. From the first Parliament of Edward VI, in 1547, it elected two members to the Unreformed House of Commons.-History:The borough encompassed parts of two parishes, Newlyn East and St Enoder...
(1661 to 1672), and secretary to James, Duke of York
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
(1667 to 1672). He was fatally injured accompanying the duke at the Battle of Solebay
Battle of Solebay
The naval Battle of Solebay took place on 28 May Old Style, 7 June New Style 1672 and was the first naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War.-The battle:...
in 1672 and died on his return to Greenwich. He was buried with his father at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.
He was one of the council of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
named in Charles II's original charter, dated 15 July 1662, and was a prominent member of the Society.
Works
He wrote:- Considerations on Mr. Harrington's ... Oceana, 1657, 12mo (anon.)
- Monarchy Asserted. In Vindication of the Considerations, 1659 8vo, 2nd edit. 1660, 8vo, to which Harrington replied in his Politicaster, London, 1659, 8vo.
J. G. A. Pocock describes him as the leading contemporary opponent of Harrington, and an illustration in his views of the theory of possessive individualism of C. B. Macpherson
C. B. Macpherson
Crawford Brough Macpherson O.C. M.Sc. D. Sc. was an influential Canadian political scientist who taught political theory at the University of Toronto.-Life:...
. Francis D. Wormuth writes that Wren reversed the relation between politics and economics found in Harrington. According to I. Bernard Cohen
I. Bernard Cohen
I. Bernard Cohen was the Victor S. Thomas Professor of the history of science at Harvard University and the author of many books on the history of science and, in particular, Isaac Newton....
, Wren may have been the first, in Monarchy Asserted, to apply the term 'revolution' to the English Revolution
English Revolution
"English Revolution" has been used to describe two different events in English history. The first to be so called—by Whig historians—was the Glorious Revolution of 1688, whereby James II was replaced by William III and Mary II as monarch and a constitutional monarchy was established.In the...
. The book was dedicated to John Wilkins
John Wilkins
John Wilkins FRS was an English clergyman, natural philosopher and author, as well as a founder of the Invisible College and one of the founders of the Royal Society, and Bishop of Chester from 1668 until his death....
, and Wren's introduction explained that the anonymous Considerations had been taken by Harrington to come from the whole group of Oxford experimentalists around Wilkins (to which Wren belonged, as did his more famous cousin Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
).