Montesquieu (1689-1757) was a French philosopher whose ideas in works like The Spirit of the Laws helped launch the Enlightenment movement in Europe. His ideas on the separation of powers, that is, between the executive, legislative, and judiciary, were influential on other Enlightenment thinkers and on the 13 colonies that became the United States of America.
More about: MontesquieuDefinition
Timeline
-
1689 - 1757Life of the French philosopher Montesquieu.
-
18 Jan 1689The philosopher Montesquieu is born near Bordeaux, France.
-
1708Montesquieu graduates in law from the University of Bordeaux.
-
1714 - 1725Montesquieu serves as a judge at Bordeaux's Parlement.
-
1715Montesquieu marries Jeanne de Lartigue.
-
1721Montesquieu publishes his Lettres persanes (Persian Letters).
-
1727Montesquieu is elected to the prestigious Académie Française.
-
1728 - 1731Montesquieu travels to Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and England.
-
1734Montesquieu publishes his Considerations on the Greatness and Decline of the Romans.
-
1748Montesquieu publishes his The Spirit of the Laws where he outlines his separation of powers.
-
1750Montesquieu publishes his Defence of the Spirit of the Laws.
-
1751The Catholic Church adds Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws to the Index of Forbidden Books.
-
10 Feb 1755The French philosopher Montesquieu dies in Paris.
