Francois-Marie Arouet Voltaire

Voltaire, whose real name was François-Marie Arouet, was born in Paris in 1694 and died there in 1778. The French philosopher and writer is regarded as one of the most influential authors of the Enlightenment. He wrote poetry, plays, fiction and philosophical works. Through his criticism of absolutism, feudal rule and the ideological monopoly of the Catholic Church, he became an important precursor of the Enlightenment and an influence on the French Revolution. He was known for his precise style, sarcasm and use of irony.