Francis Bacon

Freddi: Hey Francis, when were you born?

Francis: January 22^nd 1561.

Freddi: Then what happened?

Francis: Well I went to Trinity College Cambridge when I was 12. And sadly, my father died when I was 18. So with all of my siblings, and me being the youngest, I didn’t get much money. I was basically penniless.

Freddi: That’s so sad, I’m sorry.

Francis: Its okay, I quickly turned to law. When I was 23, I was already in the House of Commons. My career didn’t really go anywhere until James the first became king. Then, once he did, I sky rocketed. But then there was a struggle between the King and the Parliament. Rumors went around and I was accuses of taking a bribe while I was a judge. I never did. But everyone else was convinced otherwise. I was tried, found guilty, I lost all of my honor, my fortune and my place in the court was gone. I could never get that back.

Freddi: That’s an awful end to your career, sorry Francis.

Francis: Then, on April 9^th, 1626, I died.

Freddi: Thank you for everything, and really, sorry about the end.

Francis: No problem Freddi.

Voltaire

Vicky: Hey Voltaire. Can I ask you some questions?

Voltaire: Sure thing.

Vicky: When were you born?

Voltaire: Nov 21^st 1694, in paris to a wealthy family.

Vicky: Then what?

Voltaire: Well in 1704 I went to College Louis- le- Grand. It was a Jesuit place that had normal education as well as more of the artsy side. Then in 1711 I moved back home. My father wanted me to study law. I really didn’t want to, but I gave in for a little bit, but I soon gave up law.

Vicky: Mean Daddy hahah.

Voltaire: Hah I guess. Then in 1713 I was sent to Holland. Then I returned to paris and worked briefly in a law office. And then in 1714 my poems get me in trouble so I was sent away again. 1715 I returned to paris, and my father introduced to a better crowd.

Vicky: You moved around a lot hah.

Voltaire: Oh theres more. In 1716 I was sent to Tulle then Sully. And then in 1717 I returned yet again to paris. But then I was accused of writing two poems that I didn’t write, so I was sent to the Bastille for eleven months. That’s when I began Henriade. And then in 1722, as a “secret diplomat”, I went to Dubois.

Vicky: Geez! How many times did you move!?

Voltaire: Hah lost count. And then in 1723, Henriade is published. Then there was 1726. I had a fight, and I was sent to Bastille, again. I was released two weeks later, but then I was sent to England. I stayed there for 3 years, learned English, I took an interest in Shakespeare too. Then in 1733 I published letters on the English nation, more trouble again hah, so I fled to Lorraine.  I spent my next 15 years there.

Vicky: Wow! Your busy!!

Voltaire: Hah I’m almost done. Then in 1745 I was appointed royal historiographer of france. Then finally in 1778, I returned to paris as a hero, and died in my sleep.

Vicky: Thank you for all of that! Hah farewell Voltaire.

Voltaire: Farewell Vicky.

Denis Diderot

Lisa: Hey there Denis.

Denis: Hi Lisa. What do you need?

Lisa: Can I ask you a few things?

Denis: Sure thing.

Lisa: Okay, one. When were you born?

Denis: October 5^th, 1713. I was born at Langres. And I was schooled by Jesuits. Then I attended the University of Paris. I got my masters of art degree there. That was a little more than you asked sorry.

Lisa: It’s okay, so what was so big about your life?

Denis:  I was the general editor of the encyclopedia. I guess that’s the biggest part. That was from  1750 to 1772.

Lisa: Wow, that must have been a stressful job.

Denis: Yeah, it was. I kinda….sorta… attacked the morality of the day…

Lisa: Hah good job Denis.

Denis: Yeah, hah I was sent to jail for three months. Then, on July 31^st of 1784, I died of emphysema in paris.

Lisa: Awh, I’m sorry.

Denis: It’s okay. Is that all you need to know?

Lisa: I think so, thanks Denis.

William Harvey

Rose: Hey William.

William: Hello Rose. You wanted to ask me a few questions?

Rose: Oh, yes. First one, birthday?

William: Born in England in 1578

Rose: What about your life? Tell me anything you feel I should know.

William: Well, when I was 20, I earned a degree at Cambridge University. Then I went to Italy to study medicine at University of Padua. In 1602, I graduated with honors. Then I went back to England, and got another medical degree from Cambridge. I then began practicing medicine. I was completely fascinated by blood flow. To the point where it was almost an obsession.

Rose: An obsession?

William: Hah, yes. In 1628, I published a book on blood flow.

Rose: Oh, wow.

William: A lot of the views were controversial, so I lost many of my patients unfortunately. But it did become basis for research of heart and blood vessels which was nice. Then in 1651, I wrote another book. That became the basis of modern embryology.

Rose: Wow, were you known for anything in your day?

William: Actually yes, I was known as a Medical leader. I was actually King Charles I’s medic.

Rose: What happened when you died?

William: Well, when I died, people were celebrating my “medical brilliance”. Does that count?

Rose: Yes, hah. Thank you William.

William: Sure thing Rose.

John Locke

Cal: Hey there John. Can I ask you a few quick questions?

John: Sure thing Cal. Knock yourself out.

Cal: Can you tell me a little about your life?

John: Well I loved from  1632 to 1704. I was an Oxford scholar, medical researcher and physician, political operative, economist and ideologue. I wrote a lot. But there was one main essay. It was concerning human understanding. I tried to determine the limits of human understanding, it was very, very difficult.

Cal: Sure sounds like it.

John: I also wanted more of a separation between church and state, it was too interlocked to me. I thought it made the government very limited. I liked to write about government and morals as well.

Cal: You sure were active with government and writing weren’t you?

John: Very much so. In one of my essays, I said we only can know the appearances not the underlying realities of natural substances. I still truly believe that too.

Cal: Alright, well I think that’s all I need. Thank you John.

John: Sure thing Cal.

Adam Smith

Alyse: Hello Adam.

Adam: Hello Alyse.

Alyse: Could I ask you a few things?

Adam: If you would like.

Alyse: One, when were you born?

Adam: June 5^th 1723.

Alyse: Cool. What about your life? Anything important?

Adam: Well, it was a very uneventful life. Very sheltered as well. Besides my mother, bless her heart, really no women played any sort of significant role in my life.

Alyse: Well that’s boring.

Adam: I told you it was uneventful. I was a philosopher. And a professor at Edinburgh from 1748- 1751. Then a professor at Glasgow from 1751- 1763. I did write some. Two books became quite popular. One was the Theory of Moral Sentiments, published 1759, and then the Wealth of Nations, published 1776.

Alyse: That sounds cool. Were you known for anything? Like before you died.

Adam: I was called the father of modern capitalism.

Alyse: Cool beans. When did you die?

Adam: July 17^th 1790.

Alyse: Kay. Gotta go. Bye.

William Shakespeare

Jane: William! Im so honored to be here with you!

William: The feelings are mutual Jane.

Jane: Oh wow! Could I ask you some questions?

William: Shoot for the starts darling.

Jane: Alright you were born April 23^rd, 1564 right? And In Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire.

William: Yes mam, that is right, well kind of. No one knows the exact date but pretty close to that day.

Jane: SO then when were you baptized?

William: April 26^th.

Jane: Well that was quick!

William: Yes it was. That is usually how it was back then.

Jane:  When did you marry Ann Hathwey?

William: Nov 28^th, 1582. And we had three darling children.

Jane: What did you do in your spare time?

William: Wrote many plays and poems, that’s mainly it. I was fascinated by them.

Jane: Cool!

William: Yes. I was extremely well known in the theatrical world in England by 1592. My plays had become very well known. My plays and word choice greatly influenced the ways that books and poems were written. Some are still popular today I assume, like Romeo and Juliet.

Jane: Yes! That is very well known!

William: But I died, April 23^rd of 1616. When I died, nothing was mentioned about my writings in the will, but that’s because I didn’t own them, but group I belonged to called the King’s men did.

Jane: That’s fascinating! But I have to be off, class soon! Farewell William!

William: Farewell Jane dear.