28 moments

1. Childhood at Belluton

   1632-01-01 · Belluton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

   Soon after his birth, Locke's family moved to the Pensford area, and he grew up in Belluton. The source says the move occurred soon after his 1632 birth; no more precise date is given.

2. Birth at Wrington

   1632-08-29 · Wrington, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

   

   John Locke was born in the Somerset village of Wrington.

3. Westminster School education

   1647-01-01 · Westminster School, London, England, United Kingdom

   Locke became a student at Westminster School in London under Alexander Popham's sponsorship.

4. Christ Church residence and study

   1652-01-01 · Christ Church, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom

   

   Locke entered Christ Church, Oxford, beginning a long Oxford period as student, tutor, and scholar. A scholarly chronology describes him as usually resident in Oxford from 1652 to 1667.

5. Diplomatic mission at Cleves

   1665-01-01 · Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

   Locke served as secretary to Sir Walter Vane on a failed royal diplomatic mission to the Elector of Brandenburg; the mission placed him at Cleves. The source supports the year but not a more precise arrival or departure date.

6. Residence at Exeter House

   1667-01-01 · Exeter House site, Strand, London, England, United Kingdom

   

   Locke moved into Lord Shaftesbury's Strand residence as his personal physician, beginning his central association with Shaftesbury and London political life. Exeter House was demolished; coordinates mark its defensible Strand-area site.

7. Return to Oxford for medical degree

   1674-01-01 · Christ Church, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom

   

   After Shaftesbury left government, Locke returned to Oxford, obtained his Bachelor of Medicine, and received a license to practice medicine.

8. Arrival in Paris on French journey

   1675-11-24 · Paris, France

   

   Locke reached Paris while traveling to southern France for health and study. The nineteenth-century biography gives the date as Nov. 24; calendar-style uncertainty is not discussed in the source.

9. Arrival in Lyons

   1675-12-11 · Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France

   

   During his southward French journey, Locke arrived at Lyons and recorded observations there. The nineteenth-century biography gives the date as Dec. 11; calendar-style uncertainty is not discussed in the source.

10. Arrival and residence at Montpellier

    1675-12-25 · Montpellier, Occitanie, France

    

    Locke reached Montpellier on Christmas Day and stayed there for roughly fourteen months, using the warmer climate while pursuing medical and intellectual interests. The source identifies Christmas Day 1675 but does not specify the calendar convention.

11. Spring excursion to Avignon

    1676-01-01 · Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

    

    Locke visited Avignon during a spring excursion from his Montpellier residence. The source specifies spring 1676; the schema permits year precision only.

12. Spring excursion to Marseille

    1676-01-01 · Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

    

    While based at Montpellier, Locke made a spring excursion to Marseille. The source specifies spring 1676; the schema permits year precision only.

13. Spring excursion to Toulon

    1676-01-01 · Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

    

    While residing principally at Montpellier, Locke traveled to Toulon during a spring 1676 excursion. The source specifies spring 1676; the schema permits year precision only.

14. Arrival in Paris as tutor

    1677-05-23 · Paris, France

    After leaving Montpellier, Locke reached Paris to supervise the education of Sir John Banks's son. The source identifies Bordeaux as part of the route but supplies no arrival date for Bordeaux.

15. Second stay at Lyons

    1678-01-01 · Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France

    After his short second stay at Montpellier, Locke went on to Lyons, intending to begin a journey to Rome. The source establishes the sequence in 1678 but does not provide a month for his arrival at Lyons.

16. Departure from Paris toward Rome

    1678-06-01 · Paris, France

    Locke left Paris with his pupil on an intended journey to Rome, traveling westward through the Loire region before returning south. The source gives only the end of June, so month precision is used.

17. Return to Montpellier

    1678-10-01 · Montpellier, Occitanie, France

    Locke reached Montpellier again during his attempted journey toward Rome, but made only a short stay. The source gives early October but no exact day.

18. Return to Paris after abandoned Rome journey

    1678-11-01 · Paris, France

    Snow in the Alpine passes ended Locke's intended Roman journey, and he returned to Paris, where he remained until the following April. A corroborating biography states that he returned to Paris in November 1678; the quoted source itself gives the return but not its month.

19. Arrival in London after French travels

    1679-04-30 · London, England, United Kingdom

    Locke returned to London after his extended French residence and travel, resuming close relations with Shaftesbury.

20. Oxford Parliament activity

    1681-01-01 · Oxford, England, United Kingdom

    

    Locke assisted Shaftesbury at the Oxford Parliament during the Exclusion Crisis. The chronology supplies year precision only.

21. Attendance at Shaftesbury funeral

    1683-01-01 · Dorset, England, United Kingdom

    

    Before departing England for exile, Locke attended Shaftesbury's funeral in Dorset. The source names Dorset but not the funeral's exact site; coordinates are a representative county point.

22. Exile begins in Amsterdam

    1683-01-01 · Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

    Locke retired to Holland in political exile; Amsterdam was his first Dutch home, where he lived under an assumed name. The source places the beginning of his Dutch exile in autumn 1683 but does not date his Amsterdam arrival more precisely.

23. Residence in Rotterdam

    1688-01-01 · Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands

    Late in his Dutch exile, Locke lived at Rotterdam in Quaker merchant Benjamin Furly's house and completed the final stages of work associated with the Essay. The surrounding text places Locke at Rotterdam in 1688; the source does not give a precise arrival date.

24. Residence at Dorset Court

    1689-01-01 · Dorset Court, London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Following his return from exile, Locke lived at Dorset Court in London during the period in which his major works appeared. Coordinates mark the historic City of London area associated with Dorset Court; the exact historical building site is uncertain.

25. Return voyage with Princess Mary

    1689-02-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    Locke followed William's invasion settlement to England, traveling in the ship carrying Princess Mary. The voyage source establishes England and month; London is supported by the subsequent statement that he reached London within a month of returning.

26. Settlement at Oates Manor

    1691-01-01 · Oates Manor, High Laver, Essex, England, United Kingdom

    

    Locke settled at Oates Manor, Sir Francis and Damaris Masham's house in Essex, which became his principal home for the rest of his life. Oates is also spelled Otes in historical sources; coordinates mark the Oates Manor/High Laver locality.

27. Final visit to London

    1702-01-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Despite retirement at Oates, Locke made a final documented visit to London. The chronology gives year precision only and does not identify a London venue.

28. Death at Oates Manor

    1704-10-28 · Oates Manor, High Laver, Essex, England, United Kingdom

    

    Locke died in his rooms at Oates Manor after years of declining health. Coordinates mark the Oates Manor/High Laver locality.