18th century in Geneva

François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778), known by his pen name Voltaire (, ; ), was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher (philosophe), satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit and his criticism of Christianity (especially of the Catholic Church) and of slavery, Voltaire was an advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state.

French writer