Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) "was born to an impoverished clerical family in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. At school he made a reputation as a linguist and fluent poet and translator. After Oxford he worked for William Cavendish as a secretary, tutor, and general advisor to the family. During his employment, he went on several 'Grand Tours' where he met the leading European intellectuals of his time. Hobbes was caught up in the turmoil preceding the Civil War and fled to France in 1640. He remained there until 1651. Because of his writings, especially [The] Leviathan, Hobbes lived in serious danger of prosecution after the restoration of Charles II. Hobbes's principal interests in his later years were translations. He lived out his old age at the Devonshire's home.

His other publications include Elements of Law Natural and Politics (1640), Human Nature (1650), The Citizen: Liberty | Dominion | Religion (1651), On Matter (1656), and Man (1658). (from former website www.thomas-hobbes.com)