Birth of John Locke
John Locke is born at Wrington in Somerset.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
John Locke Biography and Timeline
Follow John Locke through 17 dated historical records for England.
John Locke, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
17Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1632–1704Years on this page
1632
1652
Christ Church Oxford
Locke enters Christ Church, Oxford.
1666
Meeting with Anthony Ashley Cooper
Locke meets Anthony Ashley Cooper, later Earl of Shaftesbury.
1667
Shaftesbury Household
Locke enters Shaftesbury's household and becomes involved in political and administrative work.
1671
First Drafts of Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Locke begins drafts that develop into An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.
1683
Exile in the Netherlands
Locke leaves England for the Netherlands during a period of political suspicion.
1689
Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Locke publishes An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, dated 1690.
Letter Concerning Toleration
Locke publishes A Letter Concerning Toleration.
Two Treatises of Government
Locke publishes Two Treatises of Government.
1690
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Publication of "Two Treatises On Government", Liberal Constitutionalist ideas. Publication of "Essay Concerning Human Understanding". Claims experience is the source of knowledge
Constitution of England
Publication of "Two Treatises On Government", Liberal Constitutionalist ideas
Essay
Publication of "Two Treatises On Government", Liberal Constitutionalist ideas. Publication of "Essay Concerning Human Understanding". Claims experience is the source of knowledge
Two Treatises On Government", Liberal Constitutionalist ideas
Publication of "Two Treatises On Government", Liberal Constitutionalist ideas. Publication of "Essay Concerning Human Understanding". Claims experience is the source of knowledge
Two Treatises of Government
Publication of "Two Treatises On Government", Liberal Constitutionalist ideas. Publication of "Essay Concerning Human Understanding". Claims experience is the source of knowledge
1693
Thoughts Concerning Education
Publication of "Thoughts Concerning Education"
Thoughts
Publication of "Thoughts Concerning Education"
1704
Death of John Locke
John Locke dies at High Laver in Essex.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.