Voltaire: Early Life
- Voltaire was born on November 21, 1694 in Paris
- His given name by his parents was Francois Marie Arouet, but rechristened himself to be Arouet Voltaire
- He was the youngest child of 3 children from Francois Arouet and Marie Marguerite Daumand
- Voltaire's beloved mother passed away when he was merely seven years old and he immediately turned to his sister as a female figure in his life
- As a child, Voltaire was clever and intelligent, and showcased this all throughout his life
- He attended the Jesuits College of Louis-le-Grande because of his father's profession in law
- Through his childhood, Voltaire showed a love and talent for theater and poetry as well as his ambitious mentality
- Young Voltaire was drawn to a 72 year old poet named Abbe de Chaulieu, but when his dad heard about his literary interests, he sent Voltaire to study law
- Under the pressure of his father, he was an aprentice to a lawyer, but continued to write just as he loved to as a child
- Even when he was older, his father continued to have a hatred for Voltaire's literary love