Montesquieu

Montesquieu was born in La Brede, France.

Montesquieu's mother, Marie Francoise de Pesnel, passed away.

Montesquieu started school at the College of Juilly on an unspecified official date.

In 1708, he earned a law degree and pursued further education at the College of Juilly until 1711.

Louis XIV, who had a long reign in France, died in 1715 and was succeeded by Louis XV, who was only five years old at the time. This event marked a significant national transformation in France.

In 1716, Montesquieu was elected to the Academy of Bordeaux, showcasing his interest in intellectual pursuits beyond law.

In May 1721, 'Persian Letters' was written, with the specific day remaining unknown.

In 1722, Montesquieu went to Paris and became part of social circles with the assistance of friends like the Duke of Berwick and Viscount Bolingbroke. He engaged with influential figures and politicians, shaping his views on governance.

In 1725, Montesquieu sold the title of Président à mortier in the Bordeaux Parlement after deciding to retire from his legal career at the age of 36.

In 1726, Montesquieu sold his office as he grew disinterested in the parlement and shifted his focus towards Paris. This marked a significant transition in his career and priorities.

In October 1727, Montesquieu was elected to the Académie Française with the support of powerful backers, including Madame de Lambert's salon. This official recognition of his talent marked a significant achievement in his career.

Despite facing some obstacles, Montesquieu was elected to the Académie Française in January 1728. This recognition underscored his intellectual contributions and influence in the literary and academic spheres.

In April 1728, Montesquieu set off on a foreign tour to complete his education. He traveled to Vienna, Italy, Germany, Holland, and England, meeting notable figures and broadening his horizons.

In October 1729, Montesquieu was initiated into Freemasonry at the Horn Tavern Lodge in Westminster, England, in the company of Lord Chesterfield. This event marked his involvement in a secretive and influential society.

Montesquieu's stay in England from 1729 to 1731 was a formative period of his life. He had a wide circle of acquaintances, was involved in various activities such as attending parliamentary debates and becoming a Freemason, and significantly enriched his library.

In 1733, Montesquieu published Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and of their Decline, where he analyzed the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, reflecting on political and social factors that contributed to its decline.

In 1734, Montesquieu published 'Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline', one of his three best-known books. This work explored the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, reflecting his deep reflections on political philosophy.

Montesquieu argues for the separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judiciary branches to prevent tyranny and protect freedom.

In 1750, Montesquieu released his magnum opus 'The Spirit of the Laws,' a comprehensive work that classified governments based on their policies and advocated for the separation of powers. This influential text shaped political discourse in Europe and America.

Despite being well-received by enlightened thinkers and selling many copies, Montesquieu's work 'The Spirit of the Laws' faced criticism from church figures and was added to the Catholic Church's Index of Prohibited Books in 1751. Montesquieu defended his ideas in 'Défense de L'Esprit des lois' the year before.

On February 10, 1755, Montesquieu passed away in Paris during a trip, due to a high fever. He was a prominent French philosopher and political thinker.

Montesquieu, a French philosopher, passed away on February 10, 1757. His ideas on the separation of powers and The Spirit of the Laws had a significant impact on the Enlightenment movement.

Catherine the Great of Russia, in power from 1762 to 1796, incorporated many of Montesquieu's ideas from The Spirit of the Laws into a new law code drafted by a Legislative Commission in 1767.

A collection of works by Montesquieu published in three volumes in London in 1800.

Emile Durkheim's book 'Montesquieu and Rousseau Forerunners of Sociology' was published by University of Michigan Press in 1961.

Sheila Mason's work 'Montesquieu’s Idea of Justice' was published by Martinus Nijhoff in 1975.

Mark Hulliung's 'Montesquieu and the Old Regime' was published by University of California Press in 1976.

The first English edition of Montesquieu's 'The Spirit of Laws' was edited by David Wallace Carrithers and published by the University of California Press in 1977.

Stephen J. Rosow's article 'Commerce, Power and Justice: Montesquieu on international politics' was published in the Review of Politics in July 1984.

A book by Anne M. Cohler exploring the influence of Montesquieu's ideas on American constitutionalism.

A translation of Montesquieu's 'The Spirit of the Laws' by Anne M. Cohler, Basia C. Miller, and Harold S. Stone was published by Cambridge University Press in 1989.

The book 'Montesquieu: Selected Political Writings' was published in 1990 by Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.

Montesquieu's book 'Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans' was published in 1999 by Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.

A collection of essays edited by David W. Carrithers, Michael A. Mosher, and Paul A. Rahe, focusing on Montesquieu's 'The Spirit of Laws'.

Montesquieu's book 'The Spirit of Laws' was published in 2002 by Prometheus.

The book 'The Dialogue in Hell between Machiavelli and Montesquieu' was published in 2003 by Lexington Books.

Rebecca E. Kingston edited 'Montesquieu and His Legacy' published by SUNY Press in 2009.

Henry C. Clark translated Montesquieu's 'My Thoughts' which was published by Liberty Fund in 2012.

A book by Vickie B. Sullivan providing an interpretation of Montesquieu's 'The Spirit of the Laws' in the context of despotic ideas in Europe.

A translation of Montesquieu's 'The Spirit of Law' by Philip Stewart was made available in 2018.

A collection of Montesquieu's works translated by David Carrithers and Philip Stewart was published by Cambridge University Press in 2020.