Born: January 18, 1689, La Brède, Gironde, France
Died: February 10, 1755, Paris, France
Facts: The French jurist, satirist, and political and social philosopher Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755), was the first of the great French men of letters associated with the Enlightenment.
Major Accomplishments: Baron de Montesquieu was a French political analyst who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He is best known for his thoughts on the separation of powers.