Franis Bacon: Part II

The later years of Sir Francis Bacon's life were marred with political corruption, greed and a public career that ended in disgrace in 1621. Some historians claim that writers from later times may have sullied Bacon's reputation and that he was, innocent of all charges. They further claim that his impeachment as Lord Chancellor was the result of an attempt to save King James I from a political scandal. The truth may never be known due to the passage of time and paucity of records. Bacon himself said,"I know I have clean hands and a clean heart. I am as innocent of bribes as any born on St. Innocents Day."

There can be no question that whatever his culpability may have been, Sir Francis Bacon was a man who was far ahead of his time. Propelled by an unusual brilliance, he was a great thinker, and an explorer of intellectual realms heretofore unimagined. Philosopher and essayist, he believed in his own aphorism, "knowledge is power," the former of which could only be ascertained through inductive reasoning (from fact to axiom to law). His developments of this inductive philosophy, although not accepted in his lifetime, revolutionized future thinking.

The ghost of Sir Francis Bacon still looms, even centuries after his death. Some scholars claim that it was Bacon who wrote the plays attributed to William Shakespeare. His notebook, "The Northumberland Manuscript," disputes this evidence.

A man of many dimensions, secrets, sins and accomplishments, Sir Francis Bacon is a fascinating historical figure.

Read about his life and times and be astounded by his sense of the future and his uncommon genius, all the more accentuated by his fall from royal grace.

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