Sir Francis Bacon – Philosopher | Francis Bacon Research Trust

Welcome to this website about the life and work—open and secret—of Sir Francis Bacon.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was the English philosopher, scientist, poet, orator, cryptographer, jurist, statesman, author, essayist, historian, intellectual reformer and master of the English tongue, who became Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and Lord Chancellor, and was given the titles Baron Verulam of Verulam and Viscount St Alban.

Bacon lived during the height of the English Renaissance and the beginning of the modern era, of which he is considered to be a major founder. The Royal Society, for instance, acknowledges and honours him as their instaurator. Similarly in France, when Colbert in 1666 asked Huygen’s advice on how the French Academy should be developed, he recommended that it should follow Bacon's plan. Diderot and d’Alembert, in their preface to the great French Encyclopaedia (published in 1751), when speaking of those to whom they were most indebted, said:

“At the Head of these illustrious Heroes we deservedly place the immortal Francis Bacon… we are tempted to esteem him the greatest, the most universal, and most eloquent of all Philosophers. It is to this great Author we are chiefly indebted for our Encyclopaedic Plan.”

Why do we think this is important? What relevance has it today?

Bacon’s philosophical scheme, The Great Instauration or Six Days Work, is still not fully understood and practised in the way intended. To do so could bring enormous benefits to the world and help create a 'New Atlantis' or Golden Age.
Bacon not only headed the Rosy Cross Fraternity (Rosicrucians) but his Great Instauration is based on ancient wisdom and biblical and cabalistic principles. A study and knowledge of this is a major gateway into the true but veiled ever-living Wisdom Tradition. The aim is to discover truth.
Both Divinity and Poetry (Drama) play major roles in the Great Instauration. Shakespeare is not only an important part of this but the Shakespeare Authorship enigma was set up to train us in what Bacon calls the Art of Discovery, so that eventually we might discover and know the Author of All.
Bacon was a man of mystery and secrets, both of necessity and choice. Partly because of this, and because he had to act the role of a martyr to truth like the first St Alban before him, his name and memory has been slandered. This hurt needs to be redressed. The truth needs to be known, as does all truth.

This website is dedicated to helping us discover and achieve these things.

Latest News

Upcoming Events:

'St Alban and the Rosy Cross Foundations of Freemasonry' (24 June 2018) – An illustrated afternoon seminar in St Albans given by Peter Dawkins on St Alban and the Rosicrucian foundations of British Freemasonry, ancient and modern.

'Wherefore art thou?' – The Wisdom of Shakespeare in 'Romeo and Juliet' (7 July 2018) – all-inclusive day seminar led by Peter Dawkins + RSC evening perfomance of the play.

'Embodying Beauty' (8-15 Sept 2018), the second of the 'Golden Child' series of cultural, mythological 'mystery' pilgrimages, visiting Bourges, Chambord, Clos Luce and Vezelay, France.

New Essay:

'The European Myth and Mystery' – The myths that describe Europe’s role in the world and the mysteries associated with them that are not only connected with Francis Bacon but are extremely relevant today.