Secondary sourceBook1876
The Life of John Locke, Volume 1
H. R. Fox Bourne · 1876
An 1876 biography of Locke by H. R. Fox Bourne, covering his early life and philosophy.
This biography studies Locke's early life and philosophy, shaping how later generations understood him.
About this source
What it is
This is the first volume of a two-volume biography of John Locke, written by H. R. Fox Bourne and published in 1876. It opens with quotations from Locke's letters and from a letter by Lady Masham describing his character.
Why it matters
Written nearly two centuries after Locke's death, this biography reflects how later generations studied and remembered him. It draws on letters and testimonies from people who knew Locke, such as Lady Masham, to reconstruct his life and ideas for Victorian readers.
Look closer
- Why might a biographer in 1876 choose to open the book with quotations from Locke's own letters and a friend's description of him?
- What is the difference between a biography written decades later and a letter written by someone who actually knew Locke?
- What parts of a person's life might a 19th-century biography leave out or emphasize?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Locke on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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