Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694, in Paris, France. He was educated by the Jesuits at the Collège Louis-le-Grand. After an initial career as a poet and playwright, Voltaire's sharp wit and criticism of the French aristocracy led to his exile in England for nearly three years. He continued to write prolifically, producing works across multiple genres, including plays, poems, novels, essays, historical and scientific works, over 21,000 letters and over two thousand books and pamphlets. He was an outspoken advocate for civil liberties and was often at odds with the establishment, including the Catholic Church and the French monarchy. Voltaire is remembered as a crusader against tyranny and bigotry, and his works and ideas have had a lasting impact on the philosophy of the Enlightenment in France and across Europe. He died in Paris on May 30, 1778.