John Locke (29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704) was an English philosopher and physician, often called the "father of liberalism". A key Enlightenment thinker, his ideas on government, personal liberty, and empiricism influenced modern democracy and the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Born in Somerset, Locke studied at Christ Church, Oxford, where he became interested in philosophy and medicine. He worked closely with statesman Lord Shaftesbury, which shaped his political views. His Two Treatises of Government (1689) argued for natural rights, social contract theory, and limited government, directly opposing absolute monarchy.
Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) introduced the concept of tabula rasa, the idea that the mind is a blank slate shaped by experience. His Letters Concerning Toleration (1689 – 92) advocated religious freedom, influencing Western legal thought.
Exiled to the Netherlands due to political tensions, he returned after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He spent his final years writing and advising on governance. His theories continue to shape political philosophy, education, and psychology.