FRANCIS BACON
Bacon was born in London on 22nd
January, 1561. His father, Sir Nicolas Bacon, was the Lord Keeper of the Great
Seal under Queen Elizabeth I. Bacon
studied at Trinity college, Cambridge, from 1573- 1575. A year later, Bacon’s
father died. Bacon went to Gray’s Inn and devoted himself to studying law. He
was called to the Bar in 1582. Bacon composed his first political memorandum ‘A Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth’ which
earned him instant attention. Bacon befriended with the Earl of Essex who recommended him for high offices. Bacon was knighted in 1603. He was appointed in
various positions and became a member of the Privy Council and received two
titles, Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans. His political
career came to an abrupt end in 1621.
When he was impeached for taking bribes. The House of Lords awarded him
fine of forty thousand pounds and life imprisonment. Bacon pleaded guilty and spent four days in prison at the Tower of
London. Atlast King James I allowed his fine to remain unpaid and released
him from jail. Bacon died at
Highgate, in the Earl of Arundel’s house on 9th April, 1626, due to
complications arising from bronchitis.
POINTS
TO REMEMBER:
Ø A Great critic Pope sums up Bacon’s character as
“The wisest, brightest, and meanest of mankind”.
Ø Bacon’s first edition of 10 essays published in
1597.
Ø 2nd edition of 38 essays published in
1612.
Ø 3rd and final edition of 58 essays
published in 1625.
Ø Bacon’s New
Atlantis is an utopian romance
Ø Bacon’s Apophthegms
is a collection of jests and witty
sayings.
Ø Itlian
philosopher Machiavelli influenced Bacon
by his philosophy of success by whatever
means possible, moral or immoral.
Ø “We are commanded to forgive our enemies; but never
to forgive our friends”- Of Revenge
Ø “Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes
more bitter”- Of Parents and Children
Ø “He that hath wife and children hath given hostages
to fortune” – Of Marriage and Single Life
Ø “It is a strange desire to seek power and to lose
liberty” – Of Great Place
Ø “Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild
beast or a god” – Of Friendship
Ø “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man;
and writing an exact man” – Of Studies
Ø “Sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor and
follow me” – Of Goodness and Goodness of
Nature.
Ø Bacon translated some of his works from English into
Latin because he believed that Latin
would last longer than English as a literary language.
Ø Bacon held high positions in the court of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.
Ø Bacon wrote his Essays
on the models of Montaigne (Father of Essay).
Ø Bacon’s first great intellectual work was Advancement of Learning.
Ø G. Gordon has
written the Life of Bacon.
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