Francis Bacon (January 22, 1561 – April 9, 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman best known for developing the scientific method. He was born in London to a noble family; his father was Lord Keeper of the Seal and his maternal grandfather was tutor to Edward VI.  He graduated Cambridge at age 14 and became a barrister and a member of the House of Commons by age 20. He was knighted by King James in 1603 and worked his way quickly up the political ladder to become Lord Chancellor in 1618. He was made Viscount St. Albans in 1621. In that same year he was convicted of accepting bribes and briefly imprisoned in what many thought to be a set up. 

He published his first collection of essays in 1597, revised in 1612 and 1625.  As a philosopher, he resolved to create an outline for the sciences with a focus on empirical facts, inductive reasoning, experimentation and tangible proof. His early attempts to interest the crown in the work with The Advancement of Learning in 1605 proved futile, but the publication of Novum Organum Scientiarum in 1620 established his academic bona fides. A theme of advocating for radical changes to outmoded systems runs throughout his wide-ranging work. His influence grew after his death and can be seen in the work of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume and John Stuart Mill.