Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694, in Paris, France.¹⁾

He adopted the pen name “Voltaire” in 1718, which he used for the rest of his life.²⁾

Voltaire was a prominent figure of the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement in 18th-century Europe that emphasized reason, science, and individualism.³⁾

He was known for his wit, satire, and advocacy for civil liberties, including freedom of religion and freedom of speech.⁴⁾

Voltaire's father wanted him to study law, but he was more interested in literature and philosophy.⁵⁾

He wrote plays, poems, essays, novels, and historical works, covering a wide range of topics.⁶⁾

Voltaire's most famous work is the satirical novella “Candide,” published in 1759, which criticizes optimism and explores the problem of evil in the world.⁷⁾

He was a prolific correspondent and wrote thousands of letters to friends, scholars, and public figures throughout his life.⁸⁾

Voltaire was exiled to England for nearly three years (1726-1729) after criticizing the French government and offending a nobleman with his writing.⁹⁾

During his time in England, Voltaire was influenced by English thinkers such as John Locke and Isaac Newton.¹⁰⁾

He returned to France in 1729 and continued to write prolifically, producing works on philosophy, history, science, and religion.¹¹⁾

Voltaire was a deist, believing in a rational God who created the universe but did not intervene in human affairs.¹²⁾

Despite his criticism of organized religion, Voltaire defended religious tolerance and condemned religious persecution.¹³⁾

He famously said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” illustrating his commitment to freedom of speech.¹⁴⁾

Voltaire had a tumultuous relationship with the French authorities, often facing censorship and imprisonment for his writings.¹⁵⁾

He spent several periods of his life living in exile to avoid persecution for his controversial ideas.¹⁶⁾

Voltaire was fluent in multiple languages, including French, Latin, English, Italian, and Spanish.¹⁷⁾

He was a member of several intellectual circles and corresponded with leading thinkers of his time, including Denis Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Benjamin Franklin.¹⁸⁾

Voltaire was critical of the institution of monarchy and advocated for political reform, including greater power for the people and limits on royal authority.¹⁹⁾

He was a passionate advocate for justice and campaigned against miscarriages of justice, such as wrongful convictions and torture.²⁰⁾

Voltaire had a keen interest in science and wrote extensively on scientific topics, including physics, biology, and astronomy.²¹⁾

He popularized the ideas of Newtonian physics in France and helped to advance scientific knowledge during the Enlightenment.²²⁾

Voltaire was an early supporter of vaccination, advocating for the use of inoculation to prevent smallpox.²³⁾

He was also interested in economics and wrote about topics such as trade, finance, and taxation.²⁴⁾

Voltaire had a sharp wit and was known for his clever aphorisms and bon mots.²⁵⁾

He was a lifelong critic of superstition and irrationality, advocating for a rational and empirical approach to understanding the world.²⁶⁾

Voltaire was a prolific playwright, with works such as “Zaïre,” “Mahomet,” and “The Orphan of China” among his most famous plays.²⁷⁾

He was a proponent of enlightened despotism, believing that enlightened monarchs could promote progress and reform from above.²⁸⁾

Voltaire had a complex relationship with women, often forming intense friendships with female intellectuals but also expressing misogynistic attitudes in some of his writings.²⁹⁾

He was an early advocate for animal rights and spoke out against cruelty to animals.³⁰⁾