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January 18, born near Bordeaux to Jacques de Secondat, a
soldier, and Marie Francoise de Pesnel. -
Born near Bordeaux to Jacques de Secondat, a soldier, and Marie Francoise de Pesnel.
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His mother dies.
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Sent with two orphan cousins to the Oratorian school at Tuilly, near Paris, where he received a classical education.
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Returns to Bordeaux and studies law at the request of his uncle who will leave him his title and fortune.
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Receives his liscence and admitted councilor of the parliament of Guyenne.
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Moves to Paris.
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1713 Returns to Bordeaux, His father dies and he becomes the head of the family.
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1714 Appointed councilor of the Bordeaux Parliament.
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His uncle dies leaving him the title Baron de
Montesquieu, his fortune and his office of President
a Mortier. -
In 1721 Montesquieu published the Persian Letters, which was an instant success and made Montesquieu a literary celebrity.
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Writes Dialogue de Sylla et d'Eucrate and
Reflexions sur la monarchie universelle. -
1725 Writes Le temple de Gnide.
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Sells his office and moves to Paris in order to be
admitted into the Academy. -
After a dispute by a member over his Persian
Letters, is elected into the Academy. Begins his
travels to Hungary, Turkey, Italy, Germany and England. -
1730 Elected a member of the Royal Society in London.
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Returns to Bordeaux and becomes a member of the Free Masons.
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Publishes Considerations sur la grandeur et la
decadence des Romains, -
Publishes The Spirit of the Laws which he had
worked on for the past twenty years. It would go through
twenty-two editions before his death -
Writes his Defense de l'Esprit des Lois et Eclaircissements.
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1715 Marries Jeanne de Latrigue, a Calvinist who brought him a substantial dowry.
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An addition of eleven letters are made to the Persian Letters.
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February 10, dies in Bordeaux.