The famous philosopher behind the idea of "natural rights" was John Locke, an influential 17th-century English thinker. Locke argued in his works, particularly "Two Treatises of Government," that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property, which exist independently of government. He believed that the primary role of government was to protect these rights, and should it fail to do so, citizens had the right to revolt. Locke's theories laid the groundwork for modern democracy and significantly influenced both the American and French Revolutions, asserting that legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed.