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 With Introduction, Notes and Index

Essays With Introduction, Notes and Index: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Analyse De La Philosophie Du Chancelier François Bacon Avec Sa Vie ...

Analyse De La Philosophie Du Chancelier François Bacon Avec Sa Vie ...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Volume 5

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Volume 5: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays: With Annotations By Richard Whately...

Essays: With Annotations By Richard Whately...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Gardens and Friendship

Gardens and Friendship: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays; or, Counsels Civil and Moral; Edited With Introd. and Notes by A.S. Gaye

Essays; or, Counsels Civil and Moral; Edited With Introd. and Notes by A.S. Gaye: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

The Essays or Counsels

The Essays or Counsels: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

A Harmony of the Essays, Etc. Edited by Edward Arber

A Harmony of the Essays, Etc. Edited by Edward Arber: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

The Letters And Life Of Francis Bacon: Including All His Occasional Works Namely Letters Speeches Tracts State Papers Memorials De

The Letters And Life Of Francis Bacon: Including All His Occasional Works Namely Letters Speeches Tracts State Papers Memorials De: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

History of the Reign of King Henry VII

History of the Reign of King Henry VII: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 14...

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England, Volume 14...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essais De Morale Et De Politique...

Essais De Morale Et De Politique...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays, Civil And Moral: And The New Atlantis...

Essays, Civil And Moral: And The New Atlantis...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

The Moral and Historical Works of Lord Bacon: Including his Essays, Apophthegms, Wisdom of the Ancients, New Atlantis, and Life of

The Moral and Historical Works of Lord Bacon: Including his Essays, Apophthegms, Wisdom of the Ancients, New Atlantis, and Life of: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays of Francis Bacon

Essays of Francis Bacon: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays, or Counsels, Civil and Moral. To Which is Added I. The Wisdom of the Ancients. II. Of the Colours of Good and Evil. By Fra

Essays, or Counsels, Civil and Moral. To Which is Added I. The Wisdom of the Ancients. II. Of the Colours of Good and Evil. By Fra: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays, Civil and Moral: And The New Atlantis - Scholar's Choice Edition

Essays, Civil and Moral: And The New Atlantis - Scholar's Choice Edition: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon: Law Tracts. Maxims Of The Law

The Works Of Francis Bacon: Law Tracts. Maxims Of The Law: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Collection of Apophthegms New and Old

Collection of Apophthegms New and Old: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Essays, Including His Moral and Historical Works. With Memoir, Notes, and Glossary

Essays, Including His Moral and Historical Works. With Memoir, Notes, and Glossary: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

The Physical and Metaphysical Works of Lord Bacon

The Physical and Metaphysical Works of Lord Bacon: by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

by Francis 1561-1626 Bacon

The Advancement of Learning - (1605)

The Advancement of Learning - (1605): by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Preparative Toward Natural And Experimental History

Preparative Toward Natural And Experimental History: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

A Conference of Pleasure

A Conference of Pleasure: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon: Baron Of Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, And Lord High Chancellor Of England, Volume 7

The Works Of Francis Bacon: Baron Of Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, And Lord High Chancellor Of England, Volume 7: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Essays, Or Counsels, Civil & Moral, with a Table of the Colours of Good and Evil. Whereunto Is Added the Wisdome of the Ancien

The Essays, Or Counsels, Civil & Moral, with a Table of the Colours of Good and Evil. Whereunto Is Added the Wisdome of the Ancien: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

Works: Collected And Edited By James Spedding, Robert Leslie Ellis, And Douglas Denon Heath, Volume 5

Works: Collected And Edited By James Spedding, Robert Leslie Ellis, And Douglas Denon Heath, Volume 5: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon: Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, and Lord High Chancellor of England, Volumen VI

The Works Of Francis Bacon: Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, and Lord High Chancellor of England, Volumen VI: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Ed.; With A Life Of The Author, By Basil Montagu...

The Works Of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor Of England: A New Ed.; With A Life Of The Author, By Basil Montagu...: by Francis Bacon

by Francis Bacon