Francis Bacon (1561-1626), a resentative of the Renaissance in Engand, is a we-known phiosopher, scientist and essayist. He ays the foundation for modern science with his insistence on scientific way of thinking and fresh observation rather than authority as a basis for obtaining knowedge. His Essays is the first exampe of that genre in Engish iterature, which has been recognized as an important andmark in the deveopment of Engish prose. And some phrases have even entered the Engish iterary tradition.

Being the younger son of Eizabeth's first Lord Keeper, Bacon had a fortunate heritage and background. He studied at Cambridge and Gray's Inn, entered Pariament, and graduay estabished his reputation. At the height of his career, under King James, he became Lord Keeper and then Lord Chanceor of Engand. But he was ater accused of taking bribes in office. He admitted accepting sents but defended the justice of his act. After a token imprisonment, Bacon retired in disgrace to his estate of Gornhambry to spend the ast five years of his ife….