BACON, DELIA

(1811-59), Amer. among the Indians and founder of town of Talimadge, Ohio.. She is remembered only by her Philosophy of the Plays of Shakespeare Unfolded (1857), in which she sought to prove that Shakespeare’s plays were written by Francis Bacon, Spenser, and Raleigh. In the preparation of this work she spent some years in England, during which time she became insane, LAM BACON, AND FRANCIS, VISCOUNT LORD ST. ALBANS VERU- (1561-1626), Eng. philosopher, e ayist, and statesman; youngest s. of Sir Nicholas B. and nephew of William Cecil, ‘the Great Lord Burghley’; 6. London, Jan. 22; ed. privately, and later at Trinity Coll., Cambridge; subsequently entered Gray’s Inn (1576), was called to the Bar (1582), and became a bencher of his Inn (1586). While a student at Cambridge he attracted the favorable notice of Queen Elizabeth, who dubbed him ‘the Young Lord Keeper.’ He accompanied Sir Amyas Paulet on a mi ion to France (1577); applied to his powerful uncle for a Court appointment, but was unsucce ful. His succe at the Bar, however, was considerable, and he entered the political arena as member for Melcombe Regis Sones sitting subsequently for Taunton, Liverpool, Middle sex, and Southampton. He obtained from Burghley (1589) the reversion of the clerkship of the Star Chamber (worth £4600 per year), but this did not fall vacant until 1608. In the meantime he attached himself to the Earl of E ex, Burghley’s rival at Court, who bestowed many favcrs upon him. B. commenced his Sega life with an inordinate beliof himself, and was throughout his lifo servile to those placed above him, ard treacherous to his friends. With the downfall of E ex, B. had no compunction in endeavoring to secure the Earl’s conviction for treason, while at the same time he sought to exonerate himself. With the acce ion of James I. B. lost no time in bringing his old arts of flattery and obsequiousne to bear upon the new monarch, with the result that he was knighted [Sel became Solicitor-General (1607); (1618); Lord Chancellor, and_ Baron Verulam (1619), and was cr. Viscount 6t. Albans (1621). These latter titles were derived from Verulamium, the Latin name of St. Albans, near which his estate lay. B.’s rise to greatne was followed by his immediate downfall, for on March 17, 1621, charges of corruption were laid against him by the Commons. He attempted no defense, merely asking his judges ‘to be merciful to a broken reed.’ Having been found guilty B. was fined £40,000 (which fine was remitted), was committed to the Tower during the kinz’s pleasure, and was declared incapable of again holding a public office. B. was now able, for the remainder of his life, to devote his energies entirely to the literary and philosophical writings 4n which he really achieved greatne , and which constitute his enduring title to fame. B.’s Advancement of Learning was pub. 1605; Wisdom of the Ancients 1609; Novum Organum, 1620; Henry VII. and other works, 1622; H ays (complete) and Apophthegms, 1625. In a purely literary sense B. is seen at his best in his E ays, which combine a high sense of style with much practical wisdom and keen observation of life; and in his Henry VII., which displays much scholarly research, he characterizes Henry with remarkable skill, and gives an attractive and animated account of that momentous reign. The attompts by some writers to father upon B. the plays of Shakespeare need not be seriously considered.