Voltaire

French Enlightenment writer and philosopher celebrated for his wit and advocacy of civil liberties, freedom of speech, and the separation of church and state. His Candide (1759) savagely satirised religious optimism and social injustice. Voltaire's prolific output and polemical style made him one of the most influential voices of the 18th-century Enlightenment.

• Nationality: french
• Roles: Philosopher, Writer, Satirist