On+Voltaire

=On Voltaire =

 "Voltaire [was] the pseudonym of François-Marie Arouet. [He was born in] 1694 [and died in] 1778. [He was a] French writer, dramatist, and poet. He was a leading figure of the Enlightenment, and frequently came into conflict with the Establishment as a result of his radical political and religious views and satirical writings. He spent a period in exile in England [from] 1726-1729 and was introduced there to the theories of Isaac Newton and the empiricist philosophy of John Locke. He also became acquainted with British political institutions, and extolled them as against the royal autocracy of France. Voltaire lived in Switzerland from 1754, only returning to Paris just before his death. Major works include //Lettres philosophiques// (1734) and //Candide// (1758), a satirical tale attacking Leibniz’s optimism; he also wrote plays, poetry, and historical works, and was a contributor to the great French //Encyclopédie// (1751-76).”  - Oxford Reference Encyclopedia

