Francois-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 - 30 May 1778); more commonly known by his nom de plume Voltaire; was a French Enlightenment historian; philosopher and writer. He was famous for his advocacy of freedom of religion; freedom of speech and separation of church and state; often attacking the Catholic Church through his wit and writings.

Voltaire was a prolific and versatile writer; with more than 20;000 letters and over 2;000 books and pamphlets to his name; as well as plays; poems; essays and historical and scientific works. Despite the strict censorship laws of the time; Voltaire often spoke up in favour of civil liberties; and regularly used satire to criticise intolerance; religious dogma and other pillars of French institutions of his day.