c. 1169-1253. English scholar and bishop. His
prolific writings include many scientific
works, as well as translations of Aristotle,
and commentaries on the Bible. He was a
forerunner of the empirical school, being one
of the earliest to suggest testing ancient
Greek theories by practical experiment. He
was Bishop of Lincoln from 1235 to his death,
attempting to reform morals and clerical
discipline, and engaging in controversy with
Innocent IV over the pope's finances.