Authors | Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban, PC QC (22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England. His works are credited with developing the scientific method and ... Read more

Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban, PC QC (22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England. His works are credited with developing the scientific method and remained influential through the scientific revolution. Bacon has been called the father of empiricism. His works argued for the possibility of scientific knowledge based only upon inductive reasoning and careful observation of events in nature. Most importantly, he argued science could be achieved by use of a sceptical and methodical approach whereby scientists aim to avoid misleading themselves. Although his practical ideas about such a method, the Baconian method, did not have a long-lasting influence, the general idea of the importance and possibility of a sceptical methodology makes Bacon the father of the scientific method. This method was a new rhetorical and theoretical framework for science, the practical details of which are still central in debates about science and methodology. Bacon was a patron of libraries and developed a functional system for the cataloging of books by dividing them into three categories—history, poetry, and philosophy—which could further be divided into more specific subjects and subheadings. Bacon was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he rigorously followed the medieval curriculum, largely in Latin. Bacon was the first recipient of the Queen's counsel designation, which was conferred in 1597 when Queen Elizabeth reserved Bacon as her legal advisor. After the accession of King James I in 1603, Bacon was knighted. He was later created Baron Verulam in 1618 and Viscount St. Alban in 1621. Because he had no heirs, both titles became extinct upon his death in 1626, at 65 years. Bacon died of pneumonia, with one account by John Aubrey stating that he had contracted the condition while studying the effects of freezing on the preservation of meat. He is buried at St Michael's Church, St Albans, Hertfordshire. Less

Books by Francis Bacon

Essays: Or, Counsels Civil And Moral, And The Two Books Of The Proficience And Advancement Of Learning

Essays: Or, Counsels Civil And Moral, And The Two Books Of The Proficience And Advancement Of Learning: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 4

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 4: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Edition:, Volume 16, part 2

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Edition:, Volume 16, part 2: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 7

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 7: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Works, Volume 10

Works, Volume 10: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: With A Life Of The Author

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: With A Life Of The Author: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Edition:, Volume 10

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Edition:, Volume 10: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Natural History, Works Moral, Théological Works

Natural History, Works Moral, Théological Works: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Works: Collected And Edited By James Spedding, Robert Leslie Ellis, And Douglas Denon Heath, Volume 3

Works: Collected And Edited By James Spedding, Robert Leslie Ellis, And Douglas Denon Heath, Volume 3: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Letters And Life

Letters And Life: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

History Of The Reign Of King Henry Vii. With Notes By J. Rawson Lumby;

History Of The Reign Of King Henry Vii. With Notes By J. Rawson Lumby;: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Of The Proficience And Advancement Of Learning: Divine And Human

Of The Proficience And Advancement Of Learning: Divine And Human: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

La Politique, Volume 1

La Politique, Volume 1: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The works of Francis Bacon / collected and edited by James Spedding, Robert Leslie Ellis, and Douglas Denon Heath. Volume 14 of 14

The works of Francis Bacon / collected and edited by James Spedding, Robert Leslie Ellis, and Douglas Denon Heath. Volume 14 of 14: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Edition:, Volume 7...

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Edition:, Volume 7...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 12...

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 12...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works of Francis Bacon: The History of Winds. the History of Condensations and Rarifactions, and Physical Essays - Primary

The Works of Francis Bacon: The History of Winds. the History of Condensations and Rarifactions, and Physical Essays - Primary: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Of Gardens; an Essay

Of Gardens; an Essay: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Moral, Economical, And Political Essays

Moral, Economical, And Political Essays: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England; Volume 9

The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England; Volume 9: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

The Works of Francis Bacon, Vol VIII: The Letters and the Life; Volume 1

The Works of Francis Bacon, Vol VIII: The Letters and the Life; Volume 1: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Wisdom Of The Ancients And New Atlantis (1886)

The Wisdom Of The Ancients And New Atlantis (1886): by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh

The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Lord Bacon's Essays, Or Counsels Moral And Civil. Translated From The Latin By William Willymott, ... In Two Volumes. ... Volume

Lord Bacon's Essays, Or Counsels Moral And Civil. Translated From The Latin By William Willymott, ... In Two Volumes. ... Volume: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 6

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 6: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays by Lords Bacon and Clarendon: Two Volumes in One, Volumes 1-2

Essays by Lords Bacon and Clarendon: Two Volumes in One, Volumes 1-2: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England, Volume 15

The Works of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England, Volume 15: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works of Francis Bacon, Volume 10

The Works of Francis Bacon, Volume 10: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Bacon's History Of The Reign Of King Henry Vii

Bacon's History Of The Reign Of King Henry Vii: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Selections From The Writings Of Lord Bacon, With A Memoir

Selections From The Writings Of Lord Bacon, With A Memoir: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon