How did Christopher Wren begin his career in science and mathematics?

Christopher Wren’s early interest in mathematics and science was fostered during his youth at Windsor, where he was exposed to the intellectuals surrounding King Charles I. His scientific development was further shaped by the following experiences:1

• Early Experimentation: While studying under his brother-in-law, William Holder, during the English Civil Wars, Wren experimented with astronomy, translated William Oughtred’s work on sundials into Latin, and built various astronomical and meteorological devices.1
• Physiology and Modeling: In 1647, he began working with the anatomist Charles Scarburgh, for whom he prepared experiments and created elegant models of muscles, demonstrating his tendency to approach scientific problems through visual and physical means.1
• Academic Research: At Wadham College, Oxford, which he entered in 1649, Wren engaged with the experimental philosophy of Sir Francis Bacon. He later became a fellow of All Souls College and served as a professor of astronomy at both Gresham College and Oxford.1
• Scientific Community: He was a key participant in the intellectual circle that founded the Royal Society, for which he authored the preamble to its charter.1