Locke by Brounower John Locke Chronology

The John Locke Chronology is a calendar of datable events in the life, and material in the papers, of John Locke.

The chronology is a work in progress. At this time, the following types of content may be found:

  • Information about Locke’s whereabouts: Using his Journals and Correspondence, it is possible to determine where Locke was on any given day for a great part of his life. Detailed evidence begins in November 1675, when Locke began his Journal as he embarked on a trip to France. From that point until the end of his life, Locke kept a Journal. Although the amount of detail recorded diminishes, particularly after his return to England from Holland in 1689, it is still possible to track most of his movements. Locke’s correspondence fills in some of the gaps, and also provides some evidence of his movements before 1675.
  • Locke’s weather observations: Locke recorded his first weather observations on 24 June 1666, and continued his observations (though not regularly) throughout his life. The observations are recorded in Bodleian Library, MS Locke d. 9, pages 531-471 rev. They include temperature, pressure, wind direction and strength, and general observations. The observations for the 1660s and 1670s have been entered in the Chronology thus far.
  • Captioned entries in Locke’s Journals: Locke began his journal as he departed for France on 12/22 November 1675. He continued to make notes in his journal throughout the rest of his life. The notes are particularly full during his travels in France, decreasing gradually thereafter. Most of the entries have marginal captions, and these are listed for each day in the Chronology.
  • Letters to and from Locke: Locke’s extensive correspondence has been published in eight volumes by E. S. de Beer. Entries for each of the letters are being added to the Chronology, with links to the descriptions of the letters and to the index of correspondente in The John Locke Manuscripts. These entries are being added in parallel with those for the Journals; the entries for 1674-1677 are now complete, and others (both earlier and later) are being added as time permits.


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Note: The portrait of Locke above is a drawing made by Locke’s manservant Sylvester Brounower ca. 1685. The drawing was owned by Francis Cudworth Masham, son of Damaris Masham and one of Locke’s heirs; it is now in the National Portrait Gallery.