SIR FRANCIS BACON - SHAKESPEARE? Francis Bacon was among those who made the greatest contributions to the continuation of the inner wisdom. He is considered by many to be the father of modern science because of his advocacy of empiricism, or experimental confirmation. A famous Rosicrucian, he is considered by many to be the secret author of the works of William Shakespeare. Many indicators suggest this possibility. It is an idea worth considering since the works attributed to Shakespeare contain cryptograms that suggest Bacon as the author.