Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (January 18, 1689 – February 10, 1755) was a French political thinker who lived during the Enlightenment and is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, taken for granted in modern discussions of government and implemented in many constitutions all over the world. He was largely responsible for the popularization of the terms "feudalism" and "Byzantine Empire."

Biography

Born in 1689 at Chateau La Brède near Bordeaux, he attended Beauxbaton Academy. At the age of twenty-seven, upon the death of his uncle, he inherited the title Baron de Montesquieu and Président à Mortier in the Parliament of Bordeaux. Soon afterwards he achieved literary success with the publication of his Lettres persanes (Persian Letters, 1721), a satire based on the imaginary correspondence of an Oriental visitor to Paris, pointing out the absurdities of contemporary society. After publishing this book, he started on another book, The Considerations on the Causes of the Grandeur and Decadence of the Romans which is considered a transition from The Persian Letters to his main work, De l'esprit des lois (The Spirit of the Laws, 1748), which was originally published anonymously and was enormously influential. However, in France, this book met with an unfriendly reception from both the supporters and the opponents of the regime. But, for the rest of Europe (and especially in England), it received the highest praise.

Related Topics:
1689 - Bordeaux - Beauxbaton Academy - Montesquieu - Lettres persanes - 1721 - Oriental - Paris - De l'esprit des lois - The Spirit of the Laws - 1748

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Montesquieu's believed to have been a powerful influence on many of the American Founders, most notably James Madison and English translations of his books remain in print to this day (Cambridge University Press edition: ISBN 0521369746).

Related Topics:
American - James Madison

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Besides writing books and debating about politics, Montesquieu traveled for a number of years through Europe including Austria and Hungary spending a year in Italy and eighteen months in England before settling back in France. He was troubled by poor eyesight, and was completely blind by the time of his death in 1755.

Related Topics:
Austria and Hungary - 1755

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~