Francis Bacon (1561-1626), English philosopher and statesman. Bacon wrote extensively on philosophy, advocating inductive reasoning from fact through axiom to law. His thoughts were published in the work 'Novum Organum' in 1620, widely regarded as the catalyst of the scientific revolution. Bacon was Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. He was knighted in 1603, then created Baron Verulam in 1618, and Viscount St Alban in 1621. Artwork from 'Chaudieres et Machines a Vapeur' (1911) by French civil engineer Max de Nansouty (1854-1913), part of the 'Les merveilles de la science' series of 1867-1891 by Louis Figuier.