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Why did John Locke decline a senior diplomatic post offered by William III?
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John Locke
The philosopher John Locke, oil on canvas by Herman Verelst, 1689; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
John Locke declined the senior diplomatic post offered by William III primarily due to his poor health.1
Locke suffered from persistent health issues and found the smoky atmosphere of London particularly detrimental to his well-being. Consequently, he chose to accept an invitation from his close friend, the philosopher Damaris Masham, to reside with her family at Oates in High Laver, Essex, where he spent his final years.1