1689 January 18, born near Bordeaux to Jacques de Secondat, a
soldier, and Marie Francoise de Pesnel.
1696 His mother dies.
1700 Sent with two orphan cousins to the Oratorian school at
Tuilly, near Paris, where he received a classical
education.
1705 Returns to Bordeaux and studies law at the request of his
uncle who will leave him his title and fortune.
1708 Receives his liscence and admitted councilor of the
parliament of Guyenne.
1709 Moves to Paris.
1713 Returns to Bordeaux. His father dies and he becomes the
head of the family.
1714 Appointed councilor of the Bordeaux Parliament.
1715 Marries Jeanne de Latrigue, a Calvinist who brought him a
substantial dowry.
1716 His uncle dies leaving him the title Baron de
Montesquieu, his fortune and his office of President
a Mortier.
1721 Publication of the Persian Letters.
1724 Writes Dialogue de Sylla et d'Eucrate and
Reflexions sur la monarchie universelle.
1725 Writes Le temple de Gnide.
1726 Sells his office and moves to Paris in order to be
admitted into the Academy.
1728 After a dispute by a member over his Persian
Letters, is elected into the Academy. Begins his
travels to Hungary, Turkey, Italy, Germany and England.
1730 Elected a member of the Royal Society in London.
1731 Returns to Bordeaux and becomes a member of the Free
Masons.
1734 Publishes Considerations sur la grandeur et la
decadence des Romains,.
1748 Publishes The Spirit of the Laws which he had
worked on for the past twenty years. It would go through
twenty-two editions before his death.
1750 Writes his Defense de l'Esprit des Lois et
Eclaircissements.
1754 An addition of eleven letters are made to the Persian
Letters.
1755 February 10, dies in Bordeaux.