Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, and scientist, widely regarded as the father of empiricism. His works laid the foundation for the scientific method, emphasizing observation, experimentation, and inductive reasoning.
Born in London, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, but rejected Aristotelian philosophy, advocating for a new approach to knowledge. His legal career led him to serve as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor under James I, but his political rise ended in 1621 due to corruption charges.
His most influential work, Novum Organum (1620), proposed a systematic method of scientific inquiry. He also introduced a classification of knowledge and was a patron of libraries and education. Despite being a devout Anglican, he believed science and religion could coexist.
He died in 1626 from pneumonia, reportedly after experimenting with preserving meat with snow. His legacy remains central to modern philosophy, science, and law, shaping the Enlightenment and beyond.