Francis Bacon

Who Was Francis Bacon?

Francis Bacon was a prominent English statesman, philosopher, and legal scholar who held the positions of Attorney General and Lord Chancellor. His career in public office was marred by allegations of corruption, leading to his resignation. However, Bacon is perhaps best remembered for his substantial contributions to philosophy, particularly in the development of the empirical and inductive approaches to knowledge, which laid the groundwork for what is now known as the scientific method—a cornerstone of modern scientific inquiry.

Early Life

Born on January 22, 1561, in London, Francis Bacon was the son of Sir Nicolas Bacon, who served as Lord Keeper of the Seal. His mother, Lady Anne Cooke Bacon, was the second wife of Sir Nicolas and the daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, a noted humanist and tutor to Edward VI. Lady Anne was also the sister-in-law of Lord Burghley.

As the younger of Sir Nicolas and Lady Anne’s two sons, Francis Bacon commenced his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, at the age of 12 in April 1573, completing his course in December 1575. In the following year, he enrolled in a law program at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, where his elder brother, Anthony, had also studied. Discontent with the outdated curriculum at Gray’s Inn, Bacon later described his tutors as “men of sharp wits, shut up in their cells with a few authors, chiefly Aristotle, their dictator.” He expressed a preference for the innovative Renaissance humanism that was emerging in contrast to the Aristotelian and scholastic traditions prevalent in England at the time.

After a year at Gray’s Inn, Bacon departed the institution to serve under Sir Amyas Paulet, the British ambassador to France, during his diplomatic mission in Paris. Unfortunately, two and a half years later, he was compelled to return to England prematurely following the unexpected death of his father. The modest inheritance he received left him financially strained. In search of a stable income, Bacon turned to his uncle, Lord Burghley, for assistance in securing a well-paying government position; however, his request was denied. At this juncture, Francis Bacon, still in his teenage years, faced significant challenges in establishing a viable career.

Counsel and Statesman

In 1581, Francis Bacon’s political career began when he was elected as a member of Parliament for Cornwall in the House of Commons. This opportunity allowed him to return to Gray’s Inn and complete his legal education, culminating in his appointment as outer barrister in 1582. Bacon’s political ascent accelerated in 1584 with the composition of A Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth, marking his first significant political memorandum.

Bacon served in Parliament for nearly four decades, from 1584 to 1617, during which he became deeply involved in the legal and political affairs of the royal court. In 1603, shortly before marrying heiress Alice Barnham, he was knighted following the ascension of James I to the British throne. His rapid advancement continued, with appointments as Solicitor General in 1607 and Attorney General six years later. In 1616, he was invited to join the Privy Council, and by 1617, he had attained the position of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, a role previously held by his father. His career reached its pinnacle in 1618 when he was appointed Lord Chancellor, one of the highest offices in England. The following year, Bacon was elevated to the title of Viscount St. Albans.

However, 1621 marked a significant turning point when he was accused of accepting bribes and subsequently impeached by Parliament for corruption. Some sources suggest that Bacon was set up by political adversaries as a scapegoat to shield the Duke of Buckingham from public ire. Following his trial, Bacon confessed and was found guilty, resulting in a substantial fine of £40,000 and a brief imprisonment in the Tower of London. Fortunately, his sentence was mitigated, and after four days, he was released, though the scandal severely tarnished his reputation and impacted his health.

Philosopher of Science

After the decline of his political career, Bacon retired to St. Alban’s, where he dedicated himself to his passion for the philosophy of science. From early adulthood, he sought to transform natural philosophy by advocating for an empirical scientific method rooted in tangible evidence. Bacon aimed to establish a new framework for the sciences that emphasized experimentation and observation, coining the concept of “the commerce of the mind with things.” His approach involved systematic data collection, careful analysis, and experimental inquiry, which he believed would illuminate nature’s truths and serve humanity’s betterment. Biographer Loren Eisley noted Bacon’s visionary perspective, stating that he viewed the universe as a problem to be solved rather than a static stage for human activity. Bacon asserted that his empirical method would reveal the hidden secrets of the universe.

During his youth, Bacon attempted to convey his ideas to influential figures such as his uncle, Lord Burghley, and Queen Elizabeth in his Letter of Advice. However, they were not receptive to his evolving philosophy. It was not until 1620, with the publication of Novum Organum Scientiarum (Latin for “new method”), that Bacon gained recognition as a prominent philosopher of science.

In Novum Organum, Bacon proposed that the scientific method should commence with the “Tables of Investigation,” followed by the “Table of Presence,” which catalogs conditions surrounding the studied event. The “Table of Absence in Proximity” identifies the negative occurrences, while the “Table of Comparison” allows for assessing varying degrees of the event. After these analyses, the observer conducts a brief survey to ascertain possible causes. Unlike traditional hypotheses, Bacon did not prioritize testing but emphasized observation and analysis to build a “ladder of axioms” for deeper understanding.

Writing Career

Throughout his career as counsel and statesman, Bacon was an active writer, producing numerous works for the court. His first political memorandum, A Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth, was penned in 1584, followed by a celebratory speech in 1592 honoring the queen’s coronation. Bacon’s initial publication, a collection of essays on politics, appeared in 1597 and was expanded and reissued in 1612 and 1625.

In 1605, he published The Advancement of Learning in a bid to garner support for scientific endeavors. Two years later, he shifted his focus to ancient mythology with On the Wisdom of the Ancients. Bacon returned to scientific writing with Novum Organum in 1620, which was presented as Part Two of The Great Saturation. In 1622, he produced The History of Henry VII for Prince Charles, alongside Historia Ventorum and Historia Vitae et Mortis. The following year saw the release of De Augmentis Scientarium, a continuation of his thoughts on scientific reform, and in 1624, he published The New Atlantis and Apothegms. One of his last works, Sylva Sylvarum, was released in 1627. Despite the wide range of topics, all of Bacon’s writings reflected his ambition to reform antiquated systems.

Death and Legacy

In March 1626, while conducting experiments with ice, Bacon caught a chill after stuffing a hen with snow to observe the effects of cold on preservation. Subsequently, he took refuge at Lord Arundel’s home in London, where he developed bronchitis due to the cold and musty conditions. Bacon passed away on April 9, 1626, just a week after his arrival at Arundel’s estate.

Following Bacon’s death, his ideas significantly influenced the development of 17th-century European science. Members of Robert Boyle’s circle, known as the “Invisible College,” embraced Bacon’s vision of cooperative research, leading to the establishment of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge in 1662. This institution adopted Bacon’s applied science approach and adhered to his reformed scientific method, setting a precedent for future scientific institutions. The political philosopher Thomas Hobbes served as Bacon’s final amanuensis, while notable thinkers such as John Locke, David Hume, and John Stuart Mill drew on Bacon’s influence in their works.

Today, Francis Bacon is celebrated as a pivotal figure in scientific methodology and natural philosophy during the English Renaissance. His advocacy for a systematic approach to knowledge acquisition, driven by humanitarian objectives, has earned him recognition as a key architect of the early modern era of human understanding.