John of Salisbury
Now remembered more for his accounts of contemporary history than for his contributions to philosophy, John was born c. 1115 in England and studied in Paris and Chartres with Peter Abelard and William of Conches, as well as with Gilbert de la Porreé. John became a member of the household of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, c. 1148 and served as a papal functionary until his return to England c. 1154. His Polycrates (a political philosophy that includes justifications for tyrannicide) was written during his time at the papal court, as was his Metalogicon (a defense of the trivium). After settling in England, he served at the court of Henry II, who exiled him to France about ten years later because John supported Thomas à Becket in his quarrel with the king. John's Historia pontificalis was written during his exile. In 1170, John came back to England with Becket and was present at the archbishop's murder/martyrdom. John edited Becket's correspondence and wrote an account of his life. John's correspondence is now a source of information about and understanding of the difficulties between the Archbishop and the King. In 1176, John became bishop of Chartres, in which office he died four years later.
Karen Rae Keck
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