Voltaire

Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694, to a prosperous Parisian family as the youngest of five children. His father was François Arouet and his mother was Marie Marguerite d'Aumart. When Voltaire was seven years old, his mother passed away, after which he grew closer to his free-thinking godfather who significantly influenced his intellectual development. In 1704, at age ten, he was enrolled at the Collège Louis-le-Grand, a prestigious Jesuit secondary school in Paris, where he received a classical education and began demonstrating exceptional promise as a writer. In his early adulthood, Voltaire achieved rapid literary success, but his outspoken nature created conflict with the nobility. In 1726, at age 30, he was publicly insulted by the young nobleman Chevalier de Rohan, leading to an incident that forced Voltaire into exile in England. Returning to Paris in 1728, Voltaire compiled his experiences in England and published 'Philosophical Letters' in 1734, a work that advocated for English political and religious freedoms. Throughout his career, Voltaire became the intellectual architect of Enlightenment ideals, particularly championing religious tolerance and freedom of thought. By 1778, at age 83, Voltaire had become an iconic figure of the Enlightenment movement. He returned triumphantly to Paris, where he received a hero's welcome and was celebrated as the embodiment of progressive ideals. He died in Paris on May 30, 1778, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy as perhaps the most influential intellectual figure of the 18th century.