The English philosopher who heavily influenced the Declaration of Independence was John Locke. His ideas on natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, formed a philosophical foundation for Enlightenment thought and significantly influenced American revolutionary leaders. Locke argued that governments are created to protect these rights and that citizens have the right to overthrow any government that fails to do so. His concepts of social contract and government by consent greatly impacted Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers, who incorporated these principles into the Declaration of Independence. Locke’s emphasis on individual rights and limited government helped shape modern democratic ideals and the American political system.