JOHN, an eminent English philosopher and writer in the latter end of the 17th century, was son of Mr John Locke of Pensford in Somersetshire, and born at Wrington, near Bristol, in 1632. He was sent to Christ-church in Oxford; but was highly dissatisfied with the common course of studies then pursued in the university, where nothing was taught but the Aristotelian philosophy; and had a great aversion to the disputes of the schools then in use. The first books which gave him a relish for philosophy were the writings of Des Cartes: for though he did not always approve of his notions, yet he thought he wrote with great perspicuity. He applied himself with vigour to his studies, particularly to physic, in which he gained a considerable knowledge, though he never practised it. In 1664, he went to Germany as secretary to Sir William Swan, envoy from the English court to the elector of Brandenburg and some other German princes. In less than a year, he returned to England; where, among other studies, he applied himself to that of natural philosophy, as appears from a register of the changes of the air, which he kept at Oxford from June 24, 1666, to March 28, 1667. There he became acquainted with the lord Ashley, afterwards earl of Shaftesbury, who introduced him into the conversation of some of the most eminent persons of that time. In 1670, he began to form the plan of his Essay on Human Understanding; but his employments and avocations prevented him from finishing it then. About this time he became a member of the Royal Society. In 1672, his patron, now earl of Shaftesbury, and lord chancellor of England, appointed him secretary of the presentations, which place he held till the earl resigned the great seal. In 1673, he was made secretary to a commission of trade, worth 500l. a-year; but that commission was dissolved in 1674. The earl of Shaftesbury being restored to favour, and made president of the council in 1679, sent for Mr Locke to London: but that nobleman did not continue long in his post, being sent prisoner to the Tower; and after his discharge retired to Holland in 1682.

Mr Locke followed his patron thither. He had not been absent from England a year, when he was accused at court of having written certain tracts against the government, which were afterward discovered to be written by another person; and in November 1684, he was deprived of his place of student in Christchurch. In 1685, the English envoy at the Hague demanded him and 83 other persons to be delivered up by the states general: upon which he lay concealed till the year following; and during this time formed a weekly assembly with Mr Limborch, Mr Le Clerc, and other learned men at Amsterdam. In 1689 he returned to England in the fleet which conveyed the princes of Orange; and endeavoured to procure his reformation to his place of student of Christ-church, that it might appear from thence that he had been unjustly deprived of it: but when he found the college would admit him only as a supernumerary student, he desisted from his claim.

Being esteemed a sufferer for revolution principles, he might easily have obtained a more profitable post; but he contented himself with that of commissioner of appeals, worth 200l. a-year, which was procured for him by the lord Mordaunt; and about the same time he was offered an appointment in a diplomatic character, but the infirm state of his health prevented him from accepting it. He went afterwards to reside with Sir Francis Matham and his lady, at Oates in Essex, about 25 miles from London, where he spent most of his time during the rest of his life. In this agreeable situation he enjoyed that health and vigour which enabled him to exert his talents in writing on political subjects. Hence he appears in defence of the revolution in one piece; and considering the great national concern at that time, the ill state of the silver coin, and proposing remedies for it, in others. Hence he was made a commissioner of trade and plantations in 1695, which engaged him in the immediate business of the state; and with regard to the church, he published a treatise the same year, to promote the scheme which King William had much at heart, of a comprehension with the dissenters. This, however, drew him into one controversy; which was scarcely ended, when he entered into another in defence of his essay, which held till 1698; soon after which the asthma, his constitutional disorder, increasing with his years, began to subdue him; and he became to inform, that in 1700 he resigned his seat at the board of trade, because he could no longer bear the air of London sufficient for a regular attendance upon it. After this resignation he continued altogether at Oates; in which retirement he employed the remaining last years of his life entirely in the study of the Holy Scriptures.

He died in 1704, aged 73. His writings will immortalize his name. The earl of Shaftesbury, author of the Characteristics, though in one place he speaks of Mr Locke's philosophy with severity; yet observes, concerning his Essay on the Human Understanding, in general, "that it may qualify men as well for business and the world, as for the sciences and the university." His Discourses on Government, Letters on Toleration, and Commentaries on some of St Paul's Epistles, are also held in much esteem.