John Locke and Voltaire
There have been many great men and women throughout European history, some famous for their contributions to society, others infamous. But the extent of one's influence upon later generations is limited by what they've done. In my personal opinion, the works of a great thinker far outweigh the accom 
plishments of any king, general, or emperor; physical, material accomplishments can be destroyed or forgotten, but ideas can live on and continue to influence generation after generation seemingly forever. For this reason, I've chosen to write about two great minds of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: John Locke and Voltaire. Both are considered to be two of the most influential thinkers of their time, and certainly have helped shape the world we live in today.
John Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset to parents John Locke and Agnes Keene. At the age of fifteen, John was sent to the Westminister School in London, with help from a friend of his father's, Alexander Popham. Upon completing his studies there, he was admitted to the Christ Church College at Oxford University. Finding the undergraduate curriculum to be boring and irritating, he began reading the works of more modern thinkers such as Descartes, and became more interested in these writings than the ancient Aristotelian texts being taught at Oxford during that time.
After spending a number of years at Oxford, Locke achieved a number of important roles; he received his B.A is 1656, qualified for Master of Arts in 1658 and was elected a Senior student; in 1660 he was elected Lecturer in Greek, and Lecturer in Rhetoric in '63. At this point, Locke still had not decided on his career. Due to the statutes of the Christ Church College, which only allowed a certain number of Senior Studentship to be held by certain professions, Locke chose to study medicine and become a doctor.
John Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset to parents John Locke and Agnes Keene. At the age of fifteen, John was sent to the Westminister School in London, with help from a friend of his father's, Alexander Popham. Upon completing his studies there, he was admitted to the Christ Church College at Oxford University. Finding the undergraduate curriculum to be boring and irritating, he began reading the works of more modern thinkers such as Descartes, and became more interested in these writings than the ancient Aristotelian texts being taught at Oxford during that time.
After spending a number of years at Oxford, Locke achieved a number of important roles; he received his B.A is 1656, qualified for Master of Arts in 1658 and was elected a Senior student; in 1660 he was elected Lecturer in Greek, and Lecturer in Rhetoric in '63. At this point, Locke still had not decided on his career. Due to the statutes of the Christ Church College, which only allowed a certain number of Senior Studentship to be held by certain professions, Locke chose to study medicine and become a doctor.