BACON, FRANCIS, Baron VERULAM, Viscount SAINT ALRANS ( 1561-1 626 ) A celebrated Eng lish philosopher. He was born in London on January 22, 1501. His father, Sir Nicholas Bacon (q.v.), was Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and his mother was the learned Ann Cooke, sister of Burghley's wife. In early childhood, Bacon manifested superior powers and an ardent love of knowledge; his precocious intelligence was so great, and his sedateness so remarkable, that Queen Elizabeth took pleasure in calling him her 'young lord keeper.' In his thirteenth year he was sent to the University of Cambridge, which he quit ted, after a residence of two years, with a low opinion of the course of study pursued there, and also of the Aristotelian system of philoso phy, On leaving the university he went to Paris in 1576, in the suite of Sir Amias Paulet, the English Ambassador, and there he is said to have occupied himself chiefly with statistics and diplomacy. The sudden death of his father in 1579 recalled him to England, where, after fail ing to procure from the Government a provision which would enable him to devote himself to science and literature, he betook himself for sev eral years to the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1582. Two years afterwards he entered Parliament from the borough of Mel combe Regis. In 1584 or 1585 he published a "Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth," in which he advocated "that whosoever would not bear arms against all foreign princes, and namely the Pope, that should anyway invade her Majesty's dominions, should be a traitor." In 1586 he became a heather of Gray's Inn, and in 1589 wrote another letter, this time in defense of Elizabeth's course in Church matters. But neither these letters nor the support of the Earl of Essex, whose favor he had won, could counter act the effect produced on the Queen and the Lords by his opposition in Parliament to some taxation measures in which the Government was interested. A chance was given him to apologize for this act of antagonism, but he - resolutely iefused, and thereby lost an opportunity to he come attorney-general (1594). Another failure to apologize was followed by failure to secure the solicitor-generalship, although lie was now sup ported by both Essex and Burghley. These facts
it is well to keep in mind, because they show a strength of character in striking contrast to the glaring sycophancy of his conduct in later years. When Essex found that he could do nothing for his favorite at court, be presented him with a private estate worth about £1800, and also supported him in a suit for the hand of Lady Hatton, whom Bacon wished to marry for her wealth. Lady Hatton, however, preferred Coke, Bacon's future enemy. In spite of his readiness thus to accept the patronage of Essex, when the latter was brought to trial for his conduct in Ireland, Bacon acted as Queen's coun sel against his friend. His motives in this mat ter have been differently interpreted. Some say that, because he was straitened in his circum stances at this time, he was anxious to con ciliate the Court. Others maintain, with per haps more justice, that he took this stand as being the only course open to him for securing the least severe sentence possible for his old friend. Essex himself, however, did not concur in this interpretation of Bacon's conduct. The result of this first trial of Essex was that he was set at liberty; only, however, shortly after wards to be tried again—this time for con spiracy. Bacon was now, without doubt, largely instrumental in securing for the Crown the ver dict against the accused. The merits of the case cannot be discussed here. Bacon asserted that his official position made it necessary that he should ignore ties of friendship; but then perhaps he should not have allowed himself to be put in such a position. Furthermore, the conscien tious performance of official duties at the expense . of his personal advantage was by no means a conspicuous trait in his character. After the Earl's execution he wrote, at the request of the Queen, A Declaration of the Practices and Trea sons Attempted and Committed by Robert, Earl of Essex, which was printed by authority, but with so many changes made by another hand that Bacon cannot justly be held responsible for its authorship.