John Locke Biography

In the 17th century John Locke was an early English philosopher who lived during the time of the Glorious Revolution. He was a natural rights philosopher who believed in the protection of individual rights including life, liberty and property. He was a social contract theorist who believed that the people create government. If that government does not protect the people's rights, then Locke argued the people have a right to revolt. His two most famous books were The First and Second Treatises on Civil Government. His works inspired Thomas Jefferson who authored the Declaration of Independence.