The Master Treasurer of Gray’s Inn invites all Members to attend a House Dinner marking the 400th anniversary of the life, works and death of Sir Francis Bacon.
Sir Francis (22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was a lawyer, statesman, philosopher and the first Queens Counsel being appointed to this role by Queen Elizabeth I who was known as the Patron Lady of Gray’s Inn. He was a proud and active Member of the Inn from his admittance as a student in 1575 to becoming a Master of the Bench in 1586 and then his appointment as Master Treasurer in 1608 serving until 1617. Sir Francis lived on the Estate in a building in Gray’s Inn Square and was deeply engaged in the social and administrative life of the Inn, planning and driving forwards the development of the Walks which still exist much as he would have known them.
The Dinner is only open to Members of the Inn and the invited guests of the Treasurer, with an allocation of tickets to learned societies centred around the works of Sir Francis. The reception will be held in the Walks (weather permitting) before all attendees move through into Hall where there will be a speech by the noted academic Professor Alan Stewart.
The Inn plans an evening of celebration, music and speech in honour of one of its most famous Members on the quatercentenary of his death for what will be an historic occasion.
Speaker:
Professor Alan Stewart works on early modern British literature, history, and culture. He joined Columbia University in the City of New York in 2003, after teaching for ten years at Queen Mary, and Birkbeck. His book publications include Hostage to Fortune: The Troubled Life of Francis Bacon 1561-1626 (with Lisa Jardine, 1998); Philip Sidney: A Double Life (2000); The Cradle King: A Life of James VI and I (2003); Letterwriting in Renaissance England (with Heather Wolfe, 2004); Shakespeare’s Letters (2008) alongside others and many published journal articles.
He is Director of the Oxford Francis Bacon, a new 20 volume edition of Bacon’s writings for Oxford University Press
Event details
Location: Hall
Date and time: Thursday 21 May,
- 6pm – Registration (The Walks gates)
- 6.15pm – The Walks gates open. Drinks Reception and entertainment
- 7.10pm – dinner in Hall.
If you are not attending the Drinks Reception, registration for dinner will be at Benchers’ Entrance no earlier than 19:10.
Who can attend: House dinner, no guests other than those invited by the Treasurer
Dress Code:
- Black tie, Mess dress or option of suit with bow tie
Cost:
- Benchers: £110
- Barristers: £80
- Students and barristers under 3 years of call: £30
How to book
Book online via the Gray’s Inn Online System (GIOS).
Booking closes: 17 May