Random Fun Facts About Voltaire, Jon Stewart of 18th Century France (12 items)

• 

  (#5) He Adopted A Pseudonym To Better Stick It To The Man

  The man now known exclusively as "Voltaire" was born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694. He only adopted the name "Voltaire" in 1718, after being imprisoned in the Bastille for criticizing the French Régent. So, perhaps he took on the moniker to be able to continue to critique under cover of a different name. Some scholars think that the rejection of his birth name and creation of a pen name signal his deep rejection of his father's (and soceity's) values. Exactly why he chose the name "Voltaire" remains a mystery; though scholars have pointed out it is an anagram of the Latin spelling of his name "Arouet Le Jeune": "Arovet LI." 
• 

  (#10) He Became A Freemason After His Buddy Benjamin Franklin Convinced Him To

  Benjamin Franklin - one of the most celebrated figures in U.S. history - was an enthusiastic and sharp Enlightenment mind. He wrote constantly to important European figures, conversing on everything from family matters to philosophical debates. Among the intellectual figures of the day, Voltaire was on Franklin's reading list. So when Franklin was sent as an ambassador to France from the new American nation in 1776, he made a point of grandly meeting one of the leading French intellectuals of the day. 

  On one of his meetings with Voltaire, Franklin actually convinced him to become a freemason. In the 18th century, well-to-do men on both sides of the Atlantic were becoming obsessed with the Freemasons, a secret society that counted many Founding Fathers in its ranks. So it should be no surprise that Benjamin Franklin, himself a Grand Master, was Voltaire's entry into the brotherhood. 
• 

  (#1) He Joked About The French Regent's Penchant For Incest And Paid For It With Jail Time

  One of Voltaire's first brushes with notoriety occurred in 1717, when the French government was run by the Duc d'Orléans. At the time, Orléans was ruling as a regent for his kinsman, the very young child-king Louis XV. Voltaire penned verses that tried the government's patience, but he things took a step too far when he mocked the Duc and accused him of engaging in an incestuous relationship with his daughter. Needless to say, the Duc did not respond well to Voltaire's jabs, and the satirist was banished from Paris and imprisoned in the Bastille. The first of two stints in prison for the philosopher poet.
• 

  (#9) He Was Wildly Contradictory In His Views On Religious And Racial Tolerance

  Voltaire gained fame for his passionate defense of religious tolerance. Yet, scholars claim that Voltaire looked at other religions with a degree of cultural superiority. He joked negatively about Jews and even viewed Islam as a barbaric religion. 

  Voltaire, like many in the Enlightenment, was a critic of slavery throughout European empires. Hover, his disgust of slavery didn't mean that he thought all men and women were on equal footing - he was also racist who traded in anti-black racial stereotypes in his writings. 
• 

  (#12) He Became An Intellectual Bad Boy When Copies Of His Book Were Burned In Paris

  Voltaire lived in exile in England for several years after he attempted to duel a young, French chevalier. However, his time in England proved to be intellectually inspiring. He admired so-called "British liberties" and the seeming religious tolerance he found there. Though Britain in the 18th century still hadn't granted political rights to Catholics or Jews, it seemed to Voltaire a more open and tolerant society than France and its deep Catholicism.

  In 1734, he expanded the original Letters Concerning the English Nation into the text Lettres Philosophiques, which provided a more in-depth reading of English philosophy. The book was clear in its admiration of British values and its veiled critique of France's. Great Britain was France's ancient enemy, and so many in France railed against both Voltaire's criticism of French government, society, and religion and his celebration of their sworn enemy.  

  Though he never received an official permit to publish the text, he published it anyway. It caused a huge sensation: copies of the book were publicly burned by the French royal hangman. The outcry from government circles was so fierce that Voltaire had to flee Paris. 
• 

  (#7) He Scammed The Lottery And Made A Fortune

  In 1729, Voltaire's friend - the brilliant mathematician Charles Marie de La Condamine - came to Volatire with a get-rich-quick scheme that actually worked. Paris was holding lotteries in several districts throughout the city. La Condamine pointed out that the total price of all the tickets in each district was a lot less than the prize winnings. So the plan was simple: they joined forces with a small group of friends to buy up every last ticket in each district, winning every time. They did this over the course of several months, and Voltaire made millions.

  What did Voltaire do with all of his winnings? He did what any criminal mastermind would do - he participated in a whole host of business opportunities that would be considered "insider trading" by today's standards and exponentially increased his wealth.

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking