Bacon

FRANCIS, (bā'kn,) Lord Verulam, and Viscount St. Alban's, one of the greatest of modern philosophers, was B. in London, in 1561. Entering parliament in 1593, he was knighted in 1603, and in 1613 became attorney general and privy-councillor. The office of Lord Keeper was given him in1617, and he was soon afterwards made Lord Chancellor. But from this time dates the beginning of his miserable fall. Complaints were made of his venality as a judge, which on inquiry by a parliamentary committee were verified; B. then made full confe ion, was deprived of his offices, fined, and imprisoned during the royal pleasure. He was ultimately pardoned,but continued to live in retirement, devoting himself to his favorite studies. The great aim of this extraordinary man was to reform the methods of philosophy; he recalls men from blindly following authority to the observation and examination of nature. His E ays were published in 1597, but his greatest works are the Novum Organum (1603), and the De Augment is Scient i arum (1620). D. 1626. Bacon, ROGER, a celebrated English philosopher, B. abt. 1214, early acquired an European reputation for his scientific acquirements. He is said to have suggested the reformation of the calendar; knew the composition of gunpowder, and gives an account of spectacles. His principal work is the Opus Majus, which, for its wide views of the reform of philosophy, and the ma of solid knowledge it contains, may be considered, says Dr. Whewell, " the Encyclopædia and the Novum Organum of the 13th century." Supposed to have D. in 1292. [s. 67]