I. Introduction “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (“Declaration” ) . These words, spoken by a wise and eminent man named Thomas Jefferson, were greatly influenced by the Enlightenment's most profound philosopher, John Locke. From the beginning of the Enlightenment to the twenty-first century, Locke's ideas have inspired countless innovators, philosophers, and politicians; including our own founding fathers. An enlightened philosopher and creator of bold new ideas, John Locke is the most influential person in history because he helped establish the foundations of modern philosophical empiricism, he was a staunch defender of people power, and he contributed to the social transition towards the Enlightenment. Through his exceptional philosophies, John Locke succeeded in enlightening the corrupt 16th century and paving the way for a world revolving around the radical ideas of the Enlightenment.II. BiographyJohn Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, England, the son of a lawyer and a small landowner. Although he was born during a time of political turmoil, he received a great education while growing up ("John Locke"). At the age of 14, he entered one of Britain's most prominent independent schools, known as the Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster. Consequently, in 1652 he was accepted into Christ Church, Oxford, leading to his being elected to a postgraduate fellowship in 1659 ("John Locke"). While Locke taught at the college for several years, he sparked an interest in experimental science. Obviously, he was made a member...... middle of paper ......ation of Independence. Independence Hall Association, July 4, 1995. Web. November 24, 2013. Fieser, James. “The History of Philosophy: A Brief Survey.” The University of Tennessee Martin. UT Martin, January 7, 2012. Web. December 1, 2013. “John Locke.” The Biography Channel website. A+E Network, Web. December 1, 2013 “John Locke (1632-1704). » Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. IEP, April 17, 2001. Web. 28Dec. 2013. “John Locke – Biography”. European Higher School. EGS, December 1, 2013. Web. December 1, 2013 Locke, John and PH Nidditch. An essay on human understanding. Oxford: Clarendon, 1975. Print. Shimomisse, Eiichi. “British Empiricism (Locke-Berkeley-Hume).” California State University, Dominguez Hills. CSUDH, 1997. Web. December 1, 2013. Uzgalis, William. “John Locke.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2012 edition). Edward N. Zalta (ed.), Web.