Roger Bacon was a medieval philosopher and scientist. He was a great proponent of the importance of experimental science. He was the first European to write a detailed description of the process of making gunpowder. He also speculated about flying machines and motorised ships and carriages.
Roger Bacon was born c1214-1220, probably in Ilchester. His family was wealthy and he was educated in geometry, arithmetic, astronomy and music. He then studied, and probably also taught, arts at Oxford University. He travelled to Paris sometime between 1236 and 1245. He was a pioneer in teaching Aristotle's natural philosophy at the University of Paris. He may have returned to Oxford c1247, where he met and was influenced by the philosopher and theologian Robert Grosseteste (who was the Bishop of Lincoln), the Welsh Franciscan Thomas Wallensis and the Franciscan scholar and theologian Adam Marsh (also known as Adam de Marisco). Bacon may have returned to Paris in 1251.
In around 1257 Roger Bacon became a Franciscan monk, probably in England. Soon after this he returned to Paris, where he stayed for about 10 years. Roger Bacon was an innovative thinker, who wasn't afraid to challenge current beliefs about science, philosophy and religion. He met Cardinal Guy Foulquois in Paris, who showed an interest in Bacon's ideas. Foulquois became Pope Clement IV in 1264 and then demanded to see Bacon's written work.
In 1266 Roger Bacon completed his Opus maius, which was divided into seven parts: the causes of human ignorance, the relation of the sciences to theology, grammar and the power of languages, mathematics (including astronomy and astrology), optics, experimental science and moral philosophy. The most famous passage in this work includes the sentence "without experiment, nothing can be sufficiently known". He sent his Opus maius to Pope Clement IV in Rome. Bacon then worked on his Opus minus, which summarised and supplemented the Opus maius. This work was also dispatched to the Pope. He then began writing his Opus tertium, which was his longest work. This was probably never sent to the Pope, who died in 1268. There is no written record of Pope Clement IV's reaction to Bacon's ideas.
Roger Bacon probably returned to Oxford in around 1270. He was annoyed by the increasing corruption of knowledge and was outspoken in his contempt for many of his contemporary intellectuals, including prominent Dominicans and Franciscans. In about 1278 Girolamo da Ascoli, who was Master-General of the Franciscans, condemned Bacon's teachings and had him imprisoned. He was probably released in 1290 and he died c1292 in Oxford.
There is a brass memorial plaque to Roger Bacon in the Church of St Mary Major in Ilchester. It says:
To the Immortal Memory of
Roger Bacon
A Franciscan Monk and also a free enquirer after
true knowledge. His wonderful powers as
mathematician, mechanic, optician, astronomer, chemist,
linguist, moralist, physicist and physician gained
him the title of "Doctor Miribilis"
He first made known the composition of
gunpowder, and his researches laid the
foundations of modern science. He prophesied the
making of machines to propel vessels through the water
without sails or oars; of chariots to
travel on land without horses or other draught
animals; of flying machines to traverse the air.
He was imprisoned, starved and persecuted by
the suspicious ignorance of his contemporaries
but a fuller knowledge now acclaims and
honours him as one of the greatest of mankind.
Born at Ilchester in 1214
Died at Oxford 1294
This tablet is erected to commemorate the Seventh Centenary
by a few admirers of his genius
AD 1914
