john locke-robert By rlundsten Nov 4, 1632 when john locke was born Jan 1, 1665 Locke reads Rene Descartes' Discourse on the Method and likes what he reads. This work includes the famous quote "I think, therefore I am" Jan 1, 1666 Anthony Ashley Cooper "Lord Ashley" who is an important British politician meets and befriends Locke Jan 1, 1668 Locke who is now Lord Ashley's personal physician supervises a liver operation that saves Lord Ashley's life and remarkably he lives another 15 years Jan 1, 1689 Locke writes his first draft of the Essay Concerning Human Understanding, in it are ideas on Natural Law; based partially on the writings of others Jan 1, 1689 Locke meets Sir Isaac Newton and they become friends Jan 1, 1690 Two Treatises of Civil Government by John Locke is published Period: Jan 1, 1696 to Jan 1, 1700 Locke is appointed to the British Board of Trade and even though his health is failing he is its most influential member Jan 1, 1704 John Locke dies Jan 1, 1776 Thomas Jefferson borrows from Locke's ideas to write the Declaration of Independence