John Locke (1632-1704), Philosopher

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A philosopher of wide influence and a friend of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, Locke was associated with the opposition to both Charles II and James II, and was forced to flee to Holland in 1684. On the accession to the throne of William and Mary, he returned to England and was made Commissioner of Appeals. Noted for his essays on religion and education, in 1690 Locke published An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding and Treatises on Government. He was also an active member of the Royal Society, which broadly promoted scientific exploration, and a friend of Newton and Boyle.