About Me
I was born on 21 November 1694 I am a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, deist and philosopher known for my wit, philosophical sport, and defense of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and the right to a fair trial. I was an outspoken supporter of social reform despite strict censorship laws and harsh penalties for those who broke them. A satirical polemicist, I frequently made use of my works to criticize Christian Church dogma and the French institutions of his day.After graduating, I set out on a career in literature. my father, however, intended me to be educated in the law. I, pretended to work in Paris as an assistant for a lawyer, spent much of my time writing satirical poetry. When my father found him out, he again sent me to study law, this time in the provinces. I continued to write, producing essays and historical studies not always noted for their accuracy. Voltaire's wit made him popular among some of the aristocratic families. One of my writings, about Louis XV's regent, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, led to my being imprisone in the Bastille.
