BACON, SIR NICHOLAS (15o9-1579), lord keeper of the great seal of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was the second son of Robert Bacon of Drinkstone, Suffolk, and was born at Chislehurst. He was educated at Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1527, and afterwards spent some time in Paris. Having returned to England and entered Gray's Inn, he was called to the bar in 1533, and four years later began his public life as solicitor of the court of augmentations. In 1546 he was made attorney of the court of wards and liveries; in 155o became a bencher and in 1552 treasurer of Gray's Inn. Although his sympathies were with the Protestants, he retained his office in the court of wards during Mary's reign, but an order was issued to prevent his leaving England. The important period in Bacon's life began with the accession of Elizabeth in 1558. Owing largely to his long and close friendship with Sir William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burghley, his brother-in-law, he was appointed lord keeper of the great seal in December of that year, and was soon after wards made a privy councillor and a knight. In March Bacon was appointed to preside, with Heath, archbishop of York, over a conference between the Protestants and Catholics at West minster; and Elizabeth left the management of religious affairs largely in his and Cecil's hands. In 1559 he was authorized to ex ercise the full jurisdiction of lord chancellor. In 1564 he fell temporarily into the royal disfavour and was dismissed from court, because Elizabeth suspected him of a share in a pamphlet, "A Declaration of the Succession of the Crowne Imperiall of Ingland," written by John Hales (q.v.), and favouring the claim of Lady Catherine Grey to the English throne. Bacon's innocence was ad mitted. He was restored to favour and replied to a writing by Sir Anthony Browne, who had again asserted the rights of the house of Suffolk, to which Lady Catherine belonged. He thor oughly distrusted Mary queen of Scots; objected to the proposal to marry her to the duke of Norfolk, and warned Elizabeth that serious consequences for England would follow her restoration. He died in London on Feb. 20, 1579, and was buried in St. Paul's cathedral, his death calling forth many tributes to his memory. He was twice married and by his first wife, Jane, had three sons and three daughters. His second wife was Anne (d. 161o), daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, by whom he had two sons. Bacon's eldest son, Nicholas (c. 1540-1624), was member of parliament for the county of Suffolk and in 1611 was created premier baronet of England. His second and third sons, Nathaniel (c. 1550-1622) and Edward (c. 1550-1618), also took some part in public life. His sons by his second wife were Anthony (1558-1601), a diplo matist of some repute, and the illustrious Francis Bacon (q.v.). See G. Whetstone, "Remembraunce of the life of Sir N. Bacon," in the Frondes Caducae 0816); J. A. Froude, History of England, passim (1881 f.).