Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de la Br�de et de 1689-1755
French philosopher and jurist

Born at the Ch�teau de la Br�de, near Bordeaux, he became counsellor of the parlement of Bordeaux (1714), and its president (1716). He discharged the duties of his office faithfully, but until his poor eyesight hindered him, preferred scientific research. His first great literary success was the Lettres persanes (1721, 'Persian Letters'), a satirical description of French society. Weary of routine work, he sold his office (1726) and moved to Paris. For three years he travelled extensively in order to study political and social institutions. In England (1729-31), he mixed in society, visited the Houses of Parliament, studied the political writings of John Locke, and analysed the English constitution. Causes de la grandeur des Romains et de leur d�cadence (1734, 'Causes of the Greatness and Decadence of the Romans') is one of his best works. His best-known work, the monumental D�fense de l'esprit des lois (1748, Eng trans The Spirit of the Laws, 1750), a dialogue on despotism, was published anonymously and put on the Index of prohibited books, but went through 22 editions in less than two years. A comparative study of legal and political issues, it had an immense influence. Other works include Lysimaque (1748) and Arsace et Ism�nie (Eng trans 1927), a romance, and an essay on taste (Go�t) in the Encyclop�die (1751-80). A member of the Acad�mie Fran�aise from 1728, he died totally blind.

Bibliography: J Starobinksi, Montesquieu par lui-m�me (1953)