Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St. Alban, Kt., KC (22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, and author. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. Although his political career ended in disgrace, he remained extremely influential through his works, especially as philosophical advocate and practitioner of the scientific method during the scientific revolution.
Involved in the development of Bacon's cipher.
Alleged by some to have inserted cryptic texts into various other documents - claims which have been disproved by eg Elizabeth Wells Gallup
There is a proposal - described here that the Voynich Manuscript was actually constructed as a false book made to look as if it had come from Bacon's fictional island of New Atlantis. However the dating of the manuscript (early 15th century) goes against this specific proposal. (This does not rule out it being created for a similar purpose, but involving persons of the time.)
One of the proposed authors of Shakespeare's works (by those who do not think Shakespeare himself could have written his plays) - Wikipedia page refers, along with many others, such as this and this. 
More information on the Wikipedia page ; a bibliography of his writings is at .
See also Roger Bacon - whom Wilfrid Voynich and William Romaine Newbold believed created the Voynich Manuscript - and Baconian theory of Shakespeare authorship.
For other persons of the same name see the Wikipedia disambiguation page with the artist being at .
Category:Biographies
Category:Voynich Manuscript articles
Category:16th century
Category:17th century