Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/760

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736 WREN WRIGHT cathedral, with a view to restoring or rebuild- ing it so as to adapt the whole structure to the famous Corinthian portico added by Inigo Jones. His plans for the restoration of the cathedral were soon prepared, and gave rise to protracted discussions, in the midst of which occurred the great fire of London (1666). By royal command Wren made an exact survey of the whole burnt district, and submitted a scheme which provided for wide and regular streets, frequent squares and piazzas, and a line of commodious quays along the Thames. The property owners were indifferent to his suggestions, and the same narrow thorough- fares were preserved as of old ; but he found abundant employment in the erection of public buildings and churches in lieu of those de- stroyed by the fire. The first of these in im- portance is the new cathedral of St. Paul's. The first plan for this edifice designed by Wren was in the form of a Greek cross, and of a single order in height, with a dome as largo as that of St. Peter's. But the duke of York, afterward James II., with a view to the future introduction of the ceremonials of the Roman Oatholic service, insisted upon certain modifi- cations, to which Wren was compelled to con- form, and which resulted in the adoption of the present form of the Latin cross. The first stone was laid June 21, 1675, and the last was laid 35 years later in Wren's presence, by his son Christopher. The interior decoration ac- cording to Wren's designs was never comple- ted, but is now (1876) in progress. Besides St. Paul's, he designed 53 churches or more in London, of which 50 were intended to replace those destroyed in the great fire. Among the most famous are St. Mary-le-Bow, St. Bride's in Fleet street, and St. Stephen's in Wallbrook, the last named being particularly noted for its exquisitely beautiful interior. His remaining works include the royal exchange and the cus- tom house, both subsequently burned, the Monument, Temple Bar, and the college of physicians, all in London; the hospitals at Greenwich and Chelsea ; large additions to the palaces of Hampton Court and St. James's ; the west front and towers of Westminster ab- bey; a palace at Winchester for Charles II., now used as barracks ; the gateway tower of Christ Church college, Oxford, and the Shel- donian theatre and Ashmolean museum in the same city; besides various college chapels and other buildings for the two universities. On the accession of George I. court influence was brought to bear against him, and at the age of 86 he was removed from the office of surveyor general, which he had held for 49 years. Ho was buried in the crypt of St. Paul's, and a black marble slab, with the inscription, Si monu- mentum requiris, circurwpice, marks his tomb. He was knighted by Charles II. at Whitehall in 1674, and between 1685 and 1713 represent- ed various boroughs in parliament. He was elected president of the royal society in 1680, and appointed comptroller of the works in Windsor castle in 1684. The most authentic record of his life is to be found in the " Paren- talia," begun by his son Christopher, and com- pleted by his grandson Stephen Wren (1750). WRIGHT. I. A central county of Minne- sota, bounded N. E. by the Mississippi and S. E. by Crow river and its S. fork ; area, 708 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 9,457; in 1875, 13,775. The surface is undulating aud diversified by prai- ries, forests, and numerous small lakes. The St. Paul and Pacific railroad traverses it. The chief productions in 1870 were 134,095 bush- els of wheat, 69,572 of Indian corn, 97,282 of oats, 51,748 of potatoes, 115,675 Ibs. of butter, 6,964 of wool, and 6,961 tons of bay. There were 1,082 horses, 2,050 milch cows, 3,987 other cattle, 2,612 sheep, and 2,946 swine. Capital, Buffalo. II. A N. central county of Iowa, intersected by the Boono and Iowa riv- ers; area, 625 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 2,392. The surface is generally undulating and the soil fertile. The chief productions in 1870 were 72,558 bushels of wheat, 85,284 of In- dian corn, 55,859 of oats, 8,852 of potatoes, 63,354 Ibs. of butter, and 8,053 tons of hay. There were 947 horses, 998 milch cows, 1,454 other cattle, 785 sheep, and 1,229 swine. Capital, Clarion. III. A S. county of Mis- souri, drained by the Gasconade river and the head streams of White river ; area, about 650 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 4,508, of whom 20 were colored. The surface is moderately hilly and the soil fertile. The chief productions in 1870 wore 42,316 bushels of wheat, 247,735 of In- dian corn, 29,286 of oats, 18,109 of potatoes, 36,799 Ibs. of butter, 11,726 of wool, and 37,- 551 of tobacco. There were 1,981 horses, 1,528 milch cows, 4,065 other cattle, 6,647 sheep, and 14,874 swine. Capital, Hartville. WRIGHT, Kli/ar, an American abolitionist, born in South Canaan, Litchfield co., Conn., Feb. 12, 1804. He graduated at Yale college in 1826, and for two years was a teacher at Groton, Mass. From 1829 to 1833 he was professor of mathematics and natural philoso- phy in Western Reserve college, Hudson, Ohio. He removed to New York in 1833, and was for five years secretary of the American anti- slavery society, editing in 1834-'5 a paper called "Human Rights," and in 1835-'8 the "Quarterly Anti-Slavery Magazine." He re- moved to Boston in 1838, and in April, 1839, became editor of the "Massachusetts Abo- litionist." In 1846 he established the " Chro- notype " newspaper, which he conducted till it was merged in the "Commonwealth " (1850), of which also he was for a time the editor. From 1858 to 1866 he was insurance commis- sioner of Massachusetts. Mr. Wright has pub- lished a translation in verse of La Fontaine's "Fables" (2 vols. 8vo, Boston, 1841), "A Curiosity of Law" (1866), and many pam- phlets and reports. WRIGHT (D'Arasmont), Frances (commonly called FANNY), a Scottish reformer, born in Dundee, Sept. 6, 1795, died in Cincinnati,