Bacon, Roger (c. 1214–1294)

English philosopher and scientist. He was interested in alchemy, the biological and physical sciences, and magic. Many discoveries have been credited to him, including the magnifying lens. He foresaw the extensive use of gunpowder and mechanical cars, boats, and planes. Bacon was known as Doctor Mirabilis (Wonderful Teacher).

In 1266, at the invitation of his friend Pope Clement IV, he began his Opus majus/Great Work, a compendium of all branches of knowledge. In 1268 he sent this with his Opus minus/Lesser Work and other writings to the pope. In 1277 Bacon was condemned and imprisoned by the Christian church for ‘certain novelties’ (heresy) and not released until 1292.

Bacon was born in Somerset and educated at Oxford and Paris. He became a Franciscan monk and lectured in Paris about 1241–47, then at Oxford University. He described a hypothetical diving apparatus and some of the properties of gunpowder. He promoted the use of latitude and longitude in mapmaking, and suggested the changes necessary to improve the Western calendar that were carried out by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.