What is roger bacon most famous for

Biography

Roger Bacon's parents were well-off landowners. His father, however, must have had a high regard for education since two of his sons became academics and he was prepared to support them financially. Before giving the few details of his early years that are known, we should say a little about the date of birth we have given for Roger. All that is known is that in 1267 Bacon wrote the following:-
I have laboured diligently in sciences and languages, and forty years have passed since I first learned the alphabet. I have always been studious and for all but two of these forty years I have been in study.
The date of 1214 is arrived at by assuming that the passage means that forty years have passed since he began his university studies. These began at the age of thirteen, so 53 from 1267 gives the date of 1214 as the year of his birth. There is, however, another interpretation. This is to accept as a literal fact that he first learned the alphabet in 1227. If so then perhaps he was born around 1222 but would Bacon claim to have been in study since the age of five? This wo

Roger Bacon (c.1214-c.1292)

Roger Bacon, c.1751  ©Bacon was an English Franciscan friar, philosopher, scientist and scholar of the 13th century.

Roger Bacon's date and place of birth are unknown, but he is thought to have come from a relatively wealthy family. He studied and later taught at Oxford University and also taught the University of Paris.

Bacon has a wide range of interests. He investigated optics and the refraction of light through lenses, leading to the development of spectacles. He sought reform of the calendar and was interested in astronomy. In 1266, at the request of Pope Clement IV, he collected many of his observations in his 'Opus Maius', an encyclopaedia of all science.

Bacon had a reputation as an unconventional scholar, pursuing learning in alchemy and magic - interests which earned him the soubriquet 'Doctor Mirabilis'. This led to his rejection from the Franciscans and eventual imprisonment. He died in Oxford not long after his release.

Roger Bacon

English polymath, philosopher and friar (c.1219/20–c.1292)

For other people named Roger Bacon, see Roger Bacon (disambiguation).

"Doctor Mirabilis" redirects here. For the 1964 historical novel by James Blish, see Doctor Mirabilis (novel).

Not to be confused with Francis Bacon.

The Reverend

Roger Bacon

OFM

Statue of Bacon at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Bornc. 1219/20

Near Ilchester, Somerset, England

Diedc. 1292 (aged about 72/73)

Near Oxford, Oxfordshire, England

NationalityEnglish
Other namesDoctor Mirabilis
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
EraMedieval philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
SchoolScholasticism

Main interests

Theology
Natural philosophy, Natural sciences, Chemistry, Biology, engineering, Mathematics, Astronomy

Notable ideas

Experimental science

Roger BaconOFM (;[3]Latin: Rogerus or Rogerius Baconus, Baconis, also Frater Rogerus; c. 1219/20 – c. 1292), also known by the scholastic accoladeDoct

Copyright ©dewpant.pages.dev 2025