Voltaire: A Detailed Biography

Voltaire (born François-Marie Arouet) was the most influential writer and philosopher of the Enlightenment. With razor-sharp wit, he championed reason, free speech, and religious tolerance. His masterpiece Candide remains one of the world’s most widely read works of satire. This biography explores his early life, exiles, major writings, and lasting legacy, as documented by the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Early Life and Education

Paris and Jesuit Schooling

Voltaire was born on November 21, 1694, in Paris, France, to a wealthy notary family, as documented by the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Educated at the prestigious Collège Louis-le-Grand by Jesuits, he mastered Latin, rhetoric, and theatre, but rejected religious dogma early on.

First Imprisonment and Adoption of the Pen Name

At age 24, after offending the Regency with satirical verses, he was imprisoned in the Bastille for 11 months (1717–1718). Upon release, he adopted the pen name “Voltaire” (an anagram of “Arouet l.e. jeune”) and published his tragedy Œdipe, which brought instant fame.

Exile in England and Enlightenment Ideas

English Influence (1726–1729)

After a second Bastille imprisonment in 1726, Voltaire was exiled to England. There he met Newton, Locke, and Swift, discovered constitutional monarchy, religious tolerance, and empirical science. His Letters Concerning the English Nation (1733) praised British freedoms and enraged the French establishment, as recorded by the British Library.

Major Works and Satire

Candide and Philosophical Tales

Voltaire’s masterpiece, Candide, ou l’Optimisme (1759), satirises Leibnizian optimism after the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Other famous tales include Zadig, Micromégas, and The Philosophical Dictionary, all blending humour with fierce criticism of intolerance, as highlighted by the Project Gutenberg.

Historical and Scientific Writing

Voltaire wrote groundbreaking histories (The Age of Louis XIV, Essay on the Customs and the Spirit of Nations) and popularised Newton’s science in France. His battle cry “Écrasez l’infâme” (“Crush the infamous thing”) targeted fanaticism and injustice.

Later Years at Ferney

From 1758, Voltaire lived at Ferney near the Swiss border, turning his estate into an intellectual hub. He campaigned for victims of injustice (e.g., the Calas affair) and corresponded with monarchs like Frederick the Great and Catherine the Great, as documented by the Voltaire Foundation, Oxford.

Personal Life

Voltaire never married but had a long intellectual and romantic partnership with the brilliant Émilie du Châtelet, with whom he lived and collaborated from 1733 until her death in 1749. After her death, he lived with his niece Marie Louise Mignot, whom he later married in secret.

Death and Legacy

Voltaire’s Enduring Impact

In 1778, Voltaire returned triumphantly to Paris after 28 years of exile. Adored by crowds, he died on May 30, 1778, at age 83, famously refusing last rites but declaring belief in God. His heart and brain were preserved separately, symbolising his dual legacy of passion and reason, as noted by the Smithsonian Magazine. Voltaire’s defence of free expression inspired the French Revolution and modern human rights declarations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Voltaire

Why Is Voltaire Famous?

His witty writings, especially Candide, his defence of free speech and religious tolerance, and his leading role in the Enlightenment.

What Is Voltaire’s Most Famous Work?

His most famous work is Candide (1759), a satirical novella that mocks blind optimism and religious fanaticism.

Where Was Voltaire Born?

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

What Did Voltaire Mean by “Écrasez l’infâme”?

“Écrasez l’infâme” (“Crush the infamous thing”) was his lifelong slogan against religious intolerance and superstition.

Did Voltaire Believe in God?

Voltaire was a deist—he believed in a rational creator but fiercely criticised organised religion.

Why Was Voltaire Imprisoned in the Bastille?

He was imprisoned twice (1717–1718 and 1726) for satirical writings that offended the French nobility and clergy.

How Did Voltaire Die?

Voltaire died on May 30, 1778, in Paris after returning from triumphant public celebrations; he was 83.