Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, and scientific pioneer who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I. He is considered one of the founders of the scientific method, advocating for empirical observation and inductive reasoning in scientific inquiry. Bacon's influential works, including "Novum Organum" and "The Advancement of Learning," laid the groundwork for modern scientific thinking and emphasized the importance of systematic experimentation and skepticism in the pursuit of knowledge.