Gaius Musonius Rufus

Gaius Musonius Rufus was a Roman Stoic philosopher of the 1st century AD. He taught philosophy in Rome during the reign of Nero, as consequence of which he was sent into exile in 65 AD, only returning to Rome under Galba. He was allowed to stay in Rome when Vespasian banished all the other philosophers from the city in 71 AD, although he was eventually banished anyway, only returning after Vespasians death. A collection of extracts from his lectures still survives. He is also remembered for being the teacher of Epictetus.

The son of a Roman eques of the name of Capito, Musonius Rufus was born in Volsinii, Etruria about 2030 AD. He was already famous in Rome by the time of Nero, where he taught Stoic philosophy. He followed Rubellius Plautus into exile when Plautus was banished by Nero . He returned to Rome after Plautus death , but as a consequence of his practising and teaching Stoicism, he became an object of suspicion and dislike at Neros court, and was accordingly banished to the island of Gyarus on a trumpedup charge of participation in the Pisonian conspiracy. He returned under Galba . When Marcus Antonius Primus, the general of Vespasian, was marching upon Rome , he joined the ambassadors that were sent by Vitellius to the victorious general, and going among the soldiers of the latter, preached about the blessings of peace and the dangers of war, but was soon made to stop. When the party of Vitellius gained the upper hand, Musonius was able to accuse, and obtain the conviction of, Publius Egnati

Source: Wikipedia