VoltaireArouet, Francois Marie

(1694-1778)

François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), known by his nom de plume Voltaire (), was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, freedom of expression, free trade and separation of church and state.