View source for Works of Francis Bacon

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, Lord High Chancellor of England ... With Several Additional Pieces, Never Before Printed in any Edition of His Works''}}
===by Francis Bacon===
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|shorttitle=The Works of Francis Bacon
|vol=volume one
|author=[[:Category:Francis Bacon|Francis Bacon]]
|editor=[[:Category:David Mallet|David Mallet]]
|lang=[[:Category:English|English]]
|publoc=[[:Category:London|London]]
|publisher=A. Millar
|year=1740
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|desc=[[:Category:Folios|Folio]] (33 cm.)
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}}[[wikipedia:Francis Bacon|Francis Bacon]], Viscount St Alban (1561 &ndash; 1626) was a scientist, politician, and philosopher.<ref>Markku Peltonen, "[http://www.oxforddnb.com.proxy.wm.edu/view/article/990 Bacon, Francis, Viscount St Alban (1561–1626)]," in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004-), accessed Sept. 26, 2013.</ref> Though his writings are voluminous, he is best known for his works on natural philosophy, ''The Advancement of Learning'', and ''Novum Organum Scientiarum'', which helped to usher in the enlightenment. These works laid the foundation for what became known as the scientific method.<ref>Jürgen Klein "[http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2012/entries/francis-bacon Francis Bacon]," in ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Stanford University, 1997-), article revised Dec. 7, 2012.</ref>

Born to a noble family on January 22, 1561, Bacon was educated at home until 1573.<ref>"[http://www.biography.com/people/francis-bacon-9194632 Francis Bacon]," ''The Biography Channel'' website, accessed Sep 23, 2013.</ref> He continued his education at Trinity College in Cambridge and Gray’s Inn until the death of his father in 1579.<ref>Peltonen, "Bacon, Francis."</ref> During these years, he was influenced by the Renaissance humanism with its concern for public virtue.<ref>Ibid.</ref> This led him to enter politics and he became member of Parliament in 1581. However, it was not until the ascension of James I that his political career advanced.<ref>Ibid.</ref> In 1618, Bacon became Lord Chancellor and was created Baron of Verulam. Just three years later, he was created Viscount of St. Alban.<ref>Klein, "Francis Bacon."</ref> In 1621 Bacon confessed to a charge of corruption and was barred from ever holding political office again.<ref>Ibid.</ref>

Bacon wrote many works throughout and after his political career. 1597 marks the date of his first published works, a collection of political essays that was later expanded.<ref>"Francis Bacon," ''The Biography Channel'' website.</ref>  During the years of 1603-1613 he published ''The Advancement of Learning'' as well as numerous other works.<ref>Peltonen, "Bacon, Francis."</ref> During his last five years of life he wrote a variety of works, but focused on his never completed natural philosophy treatise, ''Novum Organum Scientiarum''.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Bacon died April 9, 1626.

==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "Bacon’s works. 4.v. fol." and given by [[Thomas Jefferson]] to his son-in-law, [[Thomas Mann Randolph]]. Later appears on Randolph's 1832 estate inventory as "'Bacon's Works' (4 vols., $10.00 value)." Both [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe "Member: George Wythe"], accessed on November 13, 2013.</ref> on LibraryThing and the [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> list the 1740 London edition and this was the edition purchased by the Wolf Law Library.

<gallery widths=180px heights=300px perrow=3>
File:BaconWorks1740v1Frontispiece.jpg|<center>Frontispiece, volume one.</center>
File:BaconWorks1740v2Frontispiece.jpg|<center>Frontispiece, volume two.</center>
File:BaconWorksofFrancisBaconv3Frontispiece1740.jpg|<center>Frontispiece, volume three.</center>
</gallery>

==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
Bound in full contemporary calf covered boards, spine recently re-backed in calf, in seven compartments with decorative gilt stamps and raised bands. Has maroon label with gold title stamp and black and red printed title pages with a unique engraved frontispiece in volumes one two and three. Edges of text block tinted red. Each volume includes the armorial bookplate of H<sup>s</sup>. and M<sup>n</sup>. Berens. Bookplate iconography includes: Argent a bear passant [Berens]. Impaling azure two bends or, in base a swan [Riou]. Crest, a demi bear. 

Images of the library's copy of this book are [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolflawlibrary/sets/72157637876485684 available on Flickr.] View the record for this book in [https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991012140549703196 William & Mary's online catalog].
===Full text===
:''[[Works of Francis Bacon (Contents)|Table of contents]]''

*[http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/MalletWorksOfFrancisBacon1740Vol1.pdf Volume I] (47MB PDF)
*[http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/MalletWorksOfFrancisBacon1740Vol2.pdf Volume II] (45MB PDF)
*[http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/MalletWorksOfFrancisBacon1740Vol3.pdf Volume III] (48MB PDF)
*[http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/MalletWorksOfFrancisBacon1740Vol4.pdf Volume IV] (59MB PDF)

==See also==
*[[George Wythe Room]]
*[[Jefferson Inventory]]
*''[[Of the Advancement and Proficiencie of Learning|Of the Advancement and Proficiencie of Learning, or, The Partitions of Sciences]]''
*[[Wythe's Library]]

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
Read volume three of this book in [http://books.google.com/books?id=aq4zAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover Google Books].

__NOTOC__
[[Category:David Mallet]]
[[Category:Francis Bacon]]
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Thomas Mann Randolph's Books]]
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]

[[Category:English]]
[[Category:Folios]]
[[Category:London]]