Thomas Hobbes was one of the great political thinkers and philosophers of modern history.
Born in 1588, he was taught Latin and Greek at an early age and sent to study at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and St John's College, Cambridge,
Hobbes was hired almost straight out of university by William Cavendish (future first Earl of Devonshire), to tutor his son. This established a life-long connection between Hobbes and the Cavendish family.
He became close friends with the 2nd Earl (accompanying him on a tour of France and Italy in 1614-15) and then acted as tutor and friend to the 3rd Earl who was 29 years his junior. In his role as tutor, Hobbes was also given responsibility for the library at Hardwick Hall.
After returning from a sojourn of ten years in Paris in 1651, Hobbes again found himself in the service of the Cavendish family at Chatsworth and Hardwick and remained there for the rest of his life. He died at Hardwick Hall.
