Francois Marie Arouet (Voltaire): French Author And Philosopher 1694 - 1778 A.D.

Term Paper Title	Francois Marie Arouet (Voltaire): French Author And Philosopher 1694 - 1778 A.D.
# of Words	407
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Francois Marie Arouet (Voltaire): French Author and Philosopher 1694 - 1778 A.D.

Francois Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire) was born on November 21, 1694 in Paris.
Voltaire's style, wit, intelligence and keen sense of justice made him one of
France's greatest writers and philosophers.

Young Francois Marie received an excellent education at a Jesuit school. He left
school at 16 and soon formed friendships with a group of sophisticated Parisian
aristocrats. Paris society sought his company for his cleverness, humor and
remarkable ability to write verse. In 1717 he was arrested for writing a series
of satirical verses ridiculing the French government, and was imprisoned in the
Bastille. During his eleven months in prison he wrote his first major play,
"Oedipe," which achieved great success in 1718. He adopted his pen name
"Voltaire" the same year.

In 1726 Voltaire insulted a powerful young nobleman and was given two options:
imprisonment or exile. He chose exile and from 1726 to 1729 lived in England.
While in England Voltaire was attracted to the philosophy of John Locke and
ideas of the great scientist Sir Isaac Newton. After his return to Paris he
wrote a book praising English customs and institutions. The book was thought to
criticize the French government...

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