Biography:French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the separation of church and state.
1718-11-18 Voltaire's first play, the tragedy "Oedipe" premieres in Paris, and first use of non de plume Voltaire by François-Marie Arouet
1730-12-11 Voltaire's tragedy "Brutus" premieres in Paris
1732-08-13 Voltaire's tragic play "Zaire" premieres in Paris
1753-03-25 Voltaire leaves the court of Frederik II of Prussia
1759-01-15 Voltaire's satire "Candide" is published anonymously in five editions in five countries to scandalous acclaim (estimated date)
1762-03-10 French Huguenot Jean Calas, who was wrongly convicted of killing his son, dies after being tortured by authorities; the event inspires Voltaire to begin campaign for religious tolerance and legal reform
1765-01-11 Frisia bans Voltaire's book "Traité sur la tolérance" (Treatise on Tolerance) in which he called for religious toleration and targeted religious fanaticism, especially that of the Jesuits
1765-03-09 After a public campaign by the writer Voltaire, judges in Paris posthumously exonerate Jean Calas of murdering his son. Calas had been tortured and executed in 1762 on the charge, though his son had actually committed suicide.
1778-02-10 Voltaire returns to Paris to great acclaim after an absence of 28 years
1778-03-30 Playwright Voltaire crowned with laurel wreath
Quotes by Voltaire
"It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere."
"Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do."
Auguste Comte
Elena Cornaro Piscopia
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Socrates