Diderot

Diderot, Denis (1713-1781), a Frencl writer and philosopher born at Langres in Champagne. He was educated at a school of the Jesuits, and at the Parisian College de Harcourt. In 1745 he published an Essai sur le Merite et la Vertn, and Pensees Philosophiques in 1746. This was more or less an attack upon Christianity, as were also Lettres sur les Aveugles a, I'usage de ceux qui voient. In consequence of these writings he was imprisoned in Vincennes. He tried writing for the stage, but this was a failure. In 1749 he collaborated with D'Alembert to produce the Encyclopaedia, for which he wrote upon art, mechanics, history, and philosophy, and revised the work generally. The work was a financial failure, but the Empress Catherine of Russia came to his aid, buying his library and giving him a pension. In 1773 he made a journey to St. Petersburg to thank the Czarina, and after his return to France he lived in retirement. Of his many works some were published after his death. A philosophic dialogue called Le Neveu de Bameau was translated by Goethe. He wrote an Essai sur la Pcinture, Paradoxe sur le Comeelien, and two tales, La Beligievese and Jacques le Fataliste.