Montesquieu

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Philosophical Core: Montesquieu constructed a naturalistic, comparative sociology of law and government, arguing that laws must fit a nation's climate, soil, commerce, and political principle. Constitutional Legacy: His theory of the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers ("power should be a check to power") directly shaped the framers of the U.S. Constitution and modern liberal constitutionalism. 1689–1716 (Early Legal Career): Born at La Brède; earned a law degree from the University of Bordeaux (1708), inherited the barony of Montesquieu and office of Président à Mortier in the Parlement of Bordeaux (1716). 1721–1728 (Persian Letters & Académie française): Published Persian Letters anonymously in 1721, sold his judicial office in 1725, and was elected to the Académie française in 1728. 1728–1731 (European Travels & England): Traveled across Italy, Germany, and Austria before spending two years in England, where he observed the English parliamentary constitution. 1734–1755 (The Spirit of the Laws): Published Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and of their Decline (1734) and The Spirit of the Laws (1748), defended it in 1750, saw it placed on the Catholic Index of Forbidden Books in 1751, and died in Paris in 1755.