Voltaire (nov 21, 1694 – may 30, 1778)
Description:
Voltaire was a moderate French philosophe and playwright. He came from the middle class and was known for his wit and charm, but that wit also got him in trouble with the government, and he was exiled from France and forced to flee to England.
Voltaire was a vocal supporter of religious toleration and satirized religion. He was anti-prejudice--specifically Catholic intolerance--and resented repression and fanaticism.
Like Montesquieu, he admired English government for its checks and balances. He believed that the ideal form of government was constitutional monarchy.
Added to timeline:
EURO TIMELINE midterm
Date:
