Here's why:
* Early and Influential: Bacon published his "Essays" in 1597, establishing a strong foundation for the essay form in English literature.
* Focus on Morality and Observation: Bacon's essays focused on practical advice for living a good life, exploring themes of morality, virtue, and observation. He used a concise, aphoristic style that is still influential today.
* Impact on Later Writers: Bacon's work inspired countless subsequent essayists, including John Locke, Samuel Johnson, and William Hazlitt, who further developed and popularized the essay form.
However, it's worth noting that other prominent essayists emerged around the same time or even earlier, like:
* Michel de Montaigne: Although writing in French, Montaigne's "Essays" (published 1580) significantly influenced Bacon and other early essayists.
* Richard Hooker: Hooker's "Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity" (published 1593-1594) is a significant work of prose that predates Bacon's essays and has elements of essayistic writing.
Ultimately, the question of the first great essayist is open to interpretation. However, Francis Bacon's groundbreaking contribution to the development of the essay form in English literature has secured his place as a crucial figure in the history of the genre.