John Locke was the famous author of the "Two Treatises of Government," published in 1689. In this influential work, Locke argued against the divine right of kings and laid the foundations for modern theories of democracy and government. He proposed that legitimate government is based on the consent of the governed, asserting that individuals have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Locke's ideas emphasized the social contract and the obligation of governments to protect these rights. His philosophical contributions greatly influenced Enlightenment thinkers and the development of democratic principles, including the foundation of American political thought.