On January 18, 1689, Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, French satirist and philosopher, was born.
His treatise The Spirit of the Laws was a major influence upon America’s founding generation. He is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. He did more than any other author to secure the place of the word despotism in the political lexicon.
In 1811, former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson translated and published Destutt de Tracy’s Commentary and Review of Montesquieu’s ‘Spirit of Laws,’ a very popular review of republican principles — which helps demonstrate how important these French writers were to the American form of government.
Montesquieu died on February 10, 1755.
1 reply on “Montesquieu”
Had the U.S. Constitution (and its Preamble as well) been based on God’s rather than man’s substitute and mainly puny and picky and flawed laws, the various arms of any Central U.S. Government would have been hugely and permanently kept exceedingly small in size. With “separation of powers,” for one, being a moot point. Same is true come to think of it for ANY constitution.