Matthew Wren (writer) facts for kids

Matthew Wren (born August 20, 1629 – died June 14, 1672) was an English politician and writer. He is known for disagreeing with the ideas of James Harrington. Wren was also a monarchist, meaning he supported rule by a king or queen. He used some ideas from Thomas Hobbes, another famous thinker of his time.

Matthew Wren's Life and Career

Matthew Wren was the oldest child of Matthew Wren, who was a bishop and supported the King. His mother was Elizabeth Cutler. He was also a cousin of the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed St. Paul's Cathedral.

Early Education and Studies

Matthew Wren studied at two well-known universities: Peterhouse, Cambridge and the University of Oxford. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Oxford in 1661. This showed he was a very educated person.

Working for Important People

From 1660 to 1667, Wren worked as a secretary for Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon. Clarendon was a very important government official. Later, from 1667 to 1672, Wren became a secretary for James, Duke of York. James later became King of England.

Serving in Parliament

Matthew Wren was also a Member of Parliament (M.P.) for a place called St. Michael. He served in Parliament from 1661 until his death in 1672. As an M.P., he helped make laws for the country.

A Member of the Royal Society

In 1662, King Charles II created the Royal Society. This was a special group for scientists and thinkers. Matthew Wren was one of the first members of its council. He was an active and important part of this new scientific group.

His Final Years

In 1672, Matthew Wren was with the Duke of York during the Battle of Solebay. This was a naval battle. Wren was badly hurt during the battle. He died soon after, when he returned to Greenwich. He was buried next to his father in Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.

Involvement with Trade

Matthew Wren was also an investor in a company called The African Company. This company was involved in the trade of enslaved people across the Atlantic Ocean.

Matthew Wren's Writings

Matthew Wren was a writer who shared his political ideas. He wrote two main books.

His First Book

His first book was called Considerations on Mr. Harrington's ... Oceana. It was published in 1657. He wrote it without putting his name on it at first.

Monarchy Asserted

His second book, Monarchy Asserted, came out in 1659. It was a defense of his earlier ideas. In this book, Wren argued for a strong monarchy. James Harrington wrote a book to argue against Wren's ideas.

Ideas on Revolution

Some historians believe Matthew Wren might have been one of the first people to use the word "revolution" to describe the English Revolution. This was a big change in England's government. Wren's book was dedicated to John Wilkins, a well-known scholar. Wren explained that his first book was thought to be from a group of Oxford thinkers, including his cousin Christopher Wren.