French Philosopher Montesquieu was born, January 18, 1689.

Montesquieu (1689-1757) was a French philosopher who played a pivotal role in initiating the Enlightenment movement in Europe with his influential works. His concepts regarding the separation of powers profoundly impacted Enlightenment scholars and left a lasting imprint on the 13 colonies that eventually formed the United States of America.

Early Life

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de la Brède, now commonly known as Montesquieu, was born into an aristocratic family near Bordeaux, France, on January 18, 1689. Initially educated by the Oratorians at the Collége de Juilly, he pursued legal studies at the University of Bordeaux. Upon completing his education in 1708, he embarked on a legal career, practising in Bordeaux's Parlement and eventually becoming a judge in 1714. Two years later, he acquired both the barony of Montesquieu and the position of Président à Mortier in the Bordeaux Parlement. However, in 1725, at the age of 36, he opted to retire from his legal career, selling the inherited title.

In 1721, he published his influential work, "Lettres Persanes" (Persian Letters), which marked the beginning of Montesquieu's contributions to Enlightenment thought. Published anonymously in the Netherlands, the work subtly criticised absolute monarchs' authoritarian nature and proposed that reason, rather than faith, should govern moral conduct. The philosopher advocated for religious tolerance, emphasising the importance of observing societal rules and humanitarian duties. The book became a bestseller, experiencing multiple reprints in new editions.

Reputation as Intellectual

Montesquieu often attended the renowned salons of Madame Lambert and Madame Tencin in Paris during the 1720s, where individuals of wealth or intellectual prowess engaged in discussions, learned about the latest intellectual developments, and exchanged ideas. Initially focusing on natural history and physics, Montesquieu's academic pursuits eventually evolved towards political philosophy. His intellectual reputation was solidified in 1727 when he was elected to the prestigious Académie Française.

Between 1728 and 1731, Montesquieu travelled to Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and England. Settling down in 1731, he focused on conceptualizing the ideal political system, delving into the study of historical political systems. His reflections on ancient Rome resulted in the publication of "Considérations sur les causes de la grandeur des Romains et de leur décadence" (Considerations on the Greatness and Decline of the Romans) in 1734.

The culmination of Montesquieu’s political ideas emerged in "De L'Esprit des lois" (The Spirit of the Laws), published in 1748 in Switzerland. In this book, he founded political science and established himself as a key figure in the Enlightenment. Inspired by the Scientific Revolution, he sought universal principles, applying reason and 'science' to develop an ideal political system. A central theme was the separation of powers, emphasizing the importance of preventing the concentration of power in one branch to safeguard individual liberties.

Montesquieu's thoughts on the separation of powers reflected the tumultuous times in France. Focused on preserving the aristocratic class, threatened by an authoritarian monarchy and an unruly commoner population, he called for a collaboration between the monarchy and aristocracy and rejected revolutionary change, advocating for a careful manipulation of the existing political system. Despite facing criticism from the Church and conservatives, Montesquieu's work received acclaim from enlightened thinkers and gained widespread popularity.

Moreover, Montesquieu's principles on the indispensability of liberty, the division of powers, the preference for governments to permit rather than dictate, and the notion of republics uniting in a federal union for collective strength significantly influenced leaders in the Thirteen Colonies of North America. In this sense, key excerpts from "The Spirit of the Laws" were extracted and embraced by the colonists, particularly in relation to King George III of Great Britain.

Death & Legacy

Montesquieu passed away in Paris on February 10, 1755. According to an Irish Jesuit, he reportedly converted to Catholicism on his deathbed, a noteworthy change considering that during his lifetime, Montesquieu identified as a deist.

Despite his relatively mild political views, the philosopher’s works found widespread popularity during the 18th century. His ideas gained traction among revolutionaries in both France and the United States, as well as drawing interest from rulers. Catherine the Great, for instance, incorporated many of Montesquieu's concepts from "The Spirit of the Laws" into a new law code drafted by the Legislative Commission in 1767.

Montesquieu's enduring legacy lies in his influential ideas on the separation of powers, inspiring those who advocate for fairer government. His principles continue to shape contemporary political systems that emphasize limitations on the power of one branch through mechanisms like devolved parliaments. Montesquieu stands as a key figure in the French Enlightenment, forming an essential part of the quartet of philosophes alongside Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot, shaping political philosophy curricula worldwide.