Roger Bacon, an English philosopher and Franciscan friar, is often credited with some of the earliest known references to gunpowder. However, it is important to note that while he wrote about the properties of explosive mixtures, he did not actually invent gunpowder himself.
Bacon lived during the 13th century and was based primarily in Oxford, England. His works, particularly the Opus Majus, discussed various scientific principles and experiments. He did experiment with different substances, and his writings included descriptions that hinted at the explosive potential of certain mixtures, including saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal, which are essential components of gunpowder.
Gunpowder as we know it was more commonly attributed to Chinese alchemists who developed it earlier, around the 9th century. It was through the works of various scholars, including Bacon, that the knowledge of gunpowder spread to Europe.