Francis Bacon's Biography

 Francis Bacon was born at York House on the Strand in London. He was raised as an English gentleman and was the youngest of five sons of Sir Nicholas Bacon, who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Queen Elizabeth I. His mother, Ann Cooke, was Sir Nicholas's second wife and a member of the Reformed Puritan Church, being the daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke. Due to poor health, which plagued him throughout his life, Bacon received an education at home in his early years, According to biographers. At the age of 12, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, where he lived for three years with his older brother Anthony. While at Cambridge, he met the Queen, who was impressed by his precocious intellect and used to call him "the young Lord Keeper". His studies led him to believe that the scientific methods and results of his time needed to be revised. He revered Aristotle but loathed Aristotelian philosophy, which seemed barren, disputatious, and wrong in its objectives.

On 27th June 1576, Francis Bacon and Anthony entered de societate magistrorum at Gray's Inn. Shortly after, they traveled abroad with Sir Amias Paulet, the English ambassador in Paris. While in France under Henry III's government and society, Bacon gained valuable political knowledge. 

Bacon had three goals - to seek the truth, serve his country, and serve his church. He believed that obtaining a prestigious post would help him achieve these goals. In 1580, he applied for a post at court through his uncle, Lord Burghley. He hoped that this post would enable him to pursue a life of learning. However, his application was unsuccessful. He spent the next two years quietly studying law at Gray's Inn until he was admitted as an outer barrister in 1582.

In 1584, Francis Bacon was elected to parliament to represent Melcombe Regis in Dorset, and later Taunton in 1586. He wrote about the state of the church and advocated for philosophical reform in the now-lost tract, Temporis Partus Maximus. Bacon was also appointed as the Clerkship of the Star Chamber. 

In February 1593, Queen Elizabeth called a parliament to investigate a Roman Catholic plot against her. Bacon took his seat for Middlesex and opposed a bill that would levy triple subsidies in half the usual time, which caused offense to many. Critics accused him of seeking popularity and he was excluded from the royal court for a period of time.

In 1596, Bacon was appointed as Queen's Counsel, but unfortunately missed the opportunity to become Master of the Rolls. His financial situation remained poor for the next few years, and despite his friends' efforts, he could not find any public office. His plan to retrieve his position by marrying the wealthy widow Lady Elizabeth Hatton also failed. In 1598, Bacon was arrested due to his debts. However, in the following years, his reputation improved in the queen's court. Gradually, Bacon earned the reputation of one of the learned counsels, though he had no commission or warrant and was not entitled to any salary.

His relationship with the queen improved after he cut ties with Essex, which was a smart move since Essex was executed for treason in 1601. Along with others, Bacon was appointed to investigate the charges against Essex, his former friend and benefactor. Bacon worked hard against Essex and wrote A Declaration of the Practices and Treasons, etc., of the Earl of Essex, etc. to justify his actions. He even received a gift of £1200 fine on one of Essex’s accomplices. Bacon's fortunes improved with the accession of James I, and he was knighted in 1603.

In another shrewd move, Bacon wrote "Apologize (defense)" about his proceedings in the case of Essex, as Essex had favored James to ascend to the throne. Bacon was present at the state opening of parliament in 1605 during the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. He married Alice Baniham and in 1608, began working as the Clerkship of the Star Chamber. Despite earning a generous income, his old debts and spendthrift ways kept him in debt. In an attempt to seek further promotion and wealth, he supported King James and his arbitrary policy.

In 1613, Francis Bacon was appointed as the attorney general after he advised the king on judicial appointments. As the attorney general, he prosecuted Somerset in 1616. However, in April 1614, the parliament was against Bacon’s presence in the seat meant for Cambridge as well as the various royal plans he had supported. Though he was allowed to stay, the parliament passed a law forbidding the attorney-general to sit in parliament. Bacon's influence over the king led to resentment or apprehension in many of his peers. Despite this, Bacon continued to enjoy the king's favor and in 1618, he was appointed as the Lord Chancellor by King James.

In 1621, his public career came to an end with a disgraceful fall. He had accumulated debt and a Parliamentary Committee on the administration of the law accused him of twenty-three counts of corruption. He admitted to the lords that the confession was genuinely his, and pleaded for mercy. He was fined £40,000, later remitted by the king, and sent to the Tower of London, though his imprisonment lasted only a few days. In addition, parliament banned him from holding future office or sitting in parliament, although he narrowly escaped being deprived of his titles. Following his disgrace, he devoted himself to studying and writing.

Nieves Mathews has argued that Bacon was innocent of the bribery charges. In his defense, Bacon stated that the political scandal was baseless. He said,

 “I was the just judge that was in England these last fifty years. When the book of all hearts is opened, I trust I shall not be found to have the troubled fountain of a corrupt heart. I know I have clean hands and a clean heart. I am as innocent of bribes as any born on St. Innocent's Day".

There are various theories suggesting that Francis Bacon, the famous philosopher and statesman, was the illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. It is believed that the Queen also had another secret son, Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex, whom she forced Bacon to prosecute for treason. There is documented evidence that Elizabeth visited Nicholas Bacon's house at Gorhambury at least twice, and claimed that Bacon was frequently present at her court by the age of fifteen. It was there that he learned for the first time that he was her son.

Francis accompanied Ambassador Amyas Paulet to France and they arrived at Calais on 25 September 1576. They proceeded to the Court of Henry III of France. The first biography of Francis Bacon, published in 1631, states: "He was born into a privileged family and had high expectations for his future. He spent several years of his youth traveling to France, Italy, and Spain. He saw himself destined to one day become a ruler."

During his time in France, Francis had the opportunity to socialize with some of the most prominent statesmen and intellectuals of the era. He gained valuable insights into the workings of foreign courts and politics. While in Paris, he met Marguerite, who was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, and education. At the time of Francis's arrival, Marguerite was arranging a divorce from her legal husband, King Henry of Navarre, due to his affair with the Baroness de Sauvé. Francis was just 18 years old when he met Marguerite, who was already 26.

They fell in love with each other at first sight. After remaining in France for three years, he was suddenly ordered back to England due to the death of Nicholas Bacon in February 1579. Francis Bacon's love for Marguerite was the dominant passion of his life and continued to occupy his mind for many years. He wrote the first of seven sonnets dedicated to his love for Marguerite in the year he left France. The last ones were written after his public downfall. The thirtieth sonnet, titled "To Marguerite: And a Worthy Brother," and the thirty-first sonnet, titled "Found in Hiram's Crave… Resurrection," were written during this time.

At the age of 36, Francis Bacon pursued the courtship of Elizabeth Hatton, a 20-year-old widow. However, Elizabeth ended their relationship after accepting a marriage proposal from a man who was wealthier than Bacon. Even years later, Bacon expressed his remorse over the fact that he and Elizabeth never got married.

Francis Bacon married Alice Barnham when he was 45 years old. Alice was just fourteen years old and the daughter of a well-connected London alderman and MP. Francis wrote three sonnets during his courtship to express his love for Alice. The first sonnet was written during his courtship, and the second was written on their wedding day, which was on May 10, 1606. The third sonnet was written years later when Lady Bacon was appointed

 "Regent of the Kingdom" by special warrant of the King. The third sonnet begins with the line "Let not my Love be called Idolatry."

Historian A. L. Rowse, author of Homosexuals in History, believed that Bacon was gay. In 1996, the Journal of Homosexuality published an article titled Masculine Love, Renaissance Writing, and the New Invention of Homosexuality.

In April 1626, Sir Francis Bacon passed away near London's Highgate. This account is from a biography by William Rawley, Bacon's personal secretary and chaplain. On the ninth day of April in the year 1626, he passed away in the early morning of the day that was celebrated for our Saviour's resurrection. He was sixty-six years old and had been staying at the Earl of Arundel's house in Highgate, near London for about a week prior to his death.

God so appointing that he ought to pass on there of a delicate fever, incidentally joined by an incredible cold, by which, the defluxion of rheum fell so copiously upon his bosom, that he kicked the bucket by suffocation.

At his April 1626 burial service, north of thirty extraordinary personalities gathered together their commendations of him. It is obvious from this multitude of commendations that he was adored profoundly, however, there was something about his personality that drove men even of the height of Ben Johnson to hold him in respect and amazement. A volume of the 32 tributes was distributed in Latin in 1730. Bacon's companions allude to him as "a preeminent writer" and "a disguised writer," and furthermore interface him with the theater.