BACON, FRANCIS, BARON VERULAM AND VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS
Crest.—A boar passant erm., armed and hoofed or, a crescent for difference. Bacon.
[Bacon. Novum Organum. Londini, 1620.]
[University Library, Cambridge.]
Francis Bacon (born 22nd January 1561, died 9th April 1626) was a son of Sir Nicolas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Seals to Queen Elizabeth. He went to Cambridge at the age of thirteen and studied law.
In 1595 he was elected Member of Parliament for Middlesex, but presently fell upon evil times and, among other troubles, managed to offend the Queen by some of his writings. James I., however, restored him to Royal favour. In 1619 he became Lord Chancellor, and shortly afterwards was created Baron Verulam and Viscount St. Albans. Bacon's enemies presently prevailed against him again, and his own malpractices with regard to various judicial matters gave them the opportunity of ruining him. In spite of the king's favour and efforts in his behalf, in 1621 Bacon was ordered to pay a fine of £40,000 for his misdeeds; he was adjudged to be incapable of sitting in Parliament or to accept any public office under the Crown, neither was he to be permitted to live in any place where the Royal Court might be. He was, moreover, condemned to be kept a prisoner in the Tower of London during the king's pleasure.
In 1625, when Charles I. came to the throne of England, all these judgments were reversed and Bacon was rehabilitated, but did not live much longer to enjoy his honours.
