Francois-Marie Arouet, pen named Voltaire, was born into a noble family on November 21, 1694, in Paris. The youngest of five children, only Voltaire survived childhood. Educated by Jesuits, Voltaire studied Latin and determined to be a writer. Seemingly constantly in trouble with his father who wanted him to become a lawyer, Voltaire pretended to work as a legal assistant. All the while he was penning satirical poetry. When his father learned of his son's deception, he relocated him to the provinces. With his wit in his writings, Voltaire entertained many people, but his father gained him employment as a secretary to the French ambassador to the Netherlands. Here Voltaire fell in love with a refugee and determined to elope. Outraged, his father nixed those plans and sent his son home again.
Though the people enjoyed his wit, the government and the Catholic Church did not appreciate it. Voltaire spent much of his early life in exile or in prison but continued writing. His cutting, critical remarks made him unpopular in France, to the extent that he found a new home in England for three years where he learned a great deal. His later ideas of reform would often be based on those of the English. Back in France, Voltaire spent many years with the Marquise Du Chatelet, and together they collected numerous books and conducted experiments in the natural sciences, often based on the ideas of Sir Isaac Newton. They also studied history, religion, and philosophy. Voltaire believed in the separation of church and state and emphasized religious freedom and freedom of speech. He supported free trade and various social reforms, including that of the French judiciary system which had wronged him in the past.
Living in Paris for many years, Voltaire moved to Germany until he angered his friend Frederick the Great. Then he settled in Switzerland until they banned one of his theatrical performances. Voltaire eventually resided back in France where he lived another twenty years. Traveling to Paris to see the opening of one of his performances proved too much for the elderly man, and he died on May 30, 1778. This controversial author penned over 20,000 letters, numerous essays, poetry, prose, and over fifty theatrical plays. His ideas later influenced many people involved in the American and the French Revolutions.
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