Roger Bacon
1214 – 1292 English philosopher, scientist
The medieval friar who called for experiment and observation.
- Religion
- Christian; a Franciscan friar who urged that faith be joined with empirical study.
- Affiliations
- Franciscan Order; studied at Oxford and Paris. No secret society, though later legend cast him as a magician.
Roger Bacon pushed for knowledge grounded in mathematics and experiment long before the scientific revolution. He wrote on optics, calendar reform, and the study of languages, and drew on Ibn al-Haytham. Later legend wrongly made him an alchemist and wizard.