Montesquieu was born in the Bordeaux, France on January 6, 1689 and died in Paris, France on February 10, 1755. He was the first French scholar to affect the period of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a historical period throughout the 18th century characterized by an unwavering faith in reason as the solution to the social, moral and political problems faced by the mankind. This assurance that reason was the answer came at the expense of abandoning traditions and religions which had been considered answers to man's problems in the past.
He was born to moderate wealth. His mother, who died when he was seven, brought the title of baron to the family and also contributing a great deal of wealth. Montesquieu received a modern education at the Oratorian College de Juilly, at Meaux, France. He starts studying law in the year 1705 and was permitted to start practicing in Bordeaux in the year 1708. In 1715 he married a wealthy Protestant named Jeanne de Lartigue. He inherited the Barony of Montesquieu and the Presidency of the Bordeaux Parliament in year 1716 when his uncle died.