The significant figure known for contributing to the establishment of the scientific method is Francis Bacon. Bacon, an English philosopher and statesman of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, advocated for empirical research and inductive reasoning. His works promoted the idea of systematic experimentation and observation as the basis for knowledge, challenging traditional Aristotelian methods. Bacon's emphasis on a structured approach to investigation laid the groundwork for modern scientific practices and shaped the development of the scientific revolution.