INFLUENTIAL 17th-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes has been honoured in his home town of Malmesbury nearly 350 years after his death.

The Thomas Hobbes Society has presented the town with a commemorative bench that sits near the Market Cross.

It features the simple inscription: ‘Remember Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury (1588-1669) Philosopher.’ Hobbes was a mathematics tutor to the future Charles II but it was his political works, notably Leviathan, that helped shape Parliament after the Civil War and which gained him a place in history.

Published in 1651, it set out principles by which the country continues to be governed today and which has been described as rivalling in significance the political writings of Plato, Aristotle, Kant and others.

Thomas Hobbes Society committee member Janie Thomas said: “I would say around half the people in Malmesbury have heard of him but few are aware of his importance.

“He was so influential at a critical time in history.

“Though criticised and reviled, his philosophy has, to a large extent, been that adopted in principle by our parliament and government.”

Ms Thomas added: “In Leviathan he referred to himself as ‘Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury’, which is why we have this inscribed in steel on the bench.

“It is our way of paying tribute to a remarkable man.”