Philosopher · 1632 – 1704
John Locke
Little-Known Facts
- Locke published his Two Treatises of Government anonymously and was cautious about acknowledging authorship during his lifetime.
- Trained as a physician, he once performed a life-saving operation on his patron, the Earl of Shaftesbury.
Myths & Misconceptions
Did Locke invent the phrase 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'?
No. Locke wrote of 'life, liberty, and property'; Jefferson adapted the idea into the famous phrasing of the Declaration of Independence.