Letters on England

"François Marie Arouet, who called himself Voltaire, was the son of François Arouet of Poitou, who lived in Paris, had given up his office of notary two years before the birth ofthis his third son, and obtained some years afterwards a treasurer's office in the Chambredes Comptes. Voltaire was born in the year 1694.
He lived until within ten or elevenyears of the outbreak of the Great French Revolution, and was a chief leader in themovement of thought that preceded the Revolution. Though he lived to his eighty-fourthyear, Voltaire was born with a weak body. His brother Armand, eight years his senior, became a Jansenist. Voltaire when ten years old was placed with the Jesuits in theCollège Louis-le-Grand. There he was taught during seven years, and his genius wasencouraged in its bent for literature; skill in speaking and in writing being especiallyfostered in the system of education which the Jesuits had planned to produce capablemen who by voice and pen could give a reason for the faith they held. Verses written foran invalid soldier at the age of eleven won for young Voltaire the friendship of Ninonl'Enclos, who encouraged him to go on writing verses. She died soon afterwards, and remembered him with a legacy of two thousand livres for purchase of books."