John Locke was an English philosopher who is considered one of the founders of modern liberal thought. He was born in 1632 in Wrington, England and studied at Oxford University. Locke is best known for his political philosophy, which is outlined in his influential work, "Two Treatises of Government." In this work, he argues that all people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property and that the role of government is to protect these rights. He also influenced the concept of the social contract, in which the government's power is derived from the consent of the governed. Locke died in 11014 at the age of 72.