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Jean Jacques Rousseau Facts

Jean Jacques Rousseau Facts
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan composer and writer who became most well-known for influencing Enlightenment in Europe and some aspects of the French Revolution through his political philosophy. He was born Jean-Jacques Rousseau on June 28, 1712, in Geneva, in the Republic of Geneva, to Isaac Rousseau and Suzanne Bernard Rousseau. His mother died only nine days after he was born and both he and his older brother Francois were raised by their father and paternal aunt. From the age of 10 on, Jean saw little of his father as he had moved away with his aunt. Jean was then raised by his uncle who sent him to boarding school. As a teenager Jean supported himself working as a tutor, secretary, and servant, in France and Italy.
Interesting Jean Jacques Rousseau Facts:
At the age of 20 Jean-Jacques Rousseau met Madame de Warens, who was 29 and separated from her husband. They entered a relationship that Jean would later describe as being the love of his life.
Madame de Warens tried to help Jean-Jacques Rousseau find a profession. He took formal music lessons and briefly attended seminary school to become a priest. He did not follow through.
Jean received a small inheritance from his mother's estate when he was 25 and repaid some money to Madame de Warens.
When he was 27, Jean took a tutoring job in Lyon.
In 1742 Jean presented a new numbered musical notation system to the Academie des Sciences in Paris, believing it would earn him a fortune. It was rejected but they urged him to try again.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau became friends with Denis Diderot in 1742, a prominent figure during the Enlightenment.
Jean worked as a secretary to the French ambassador to Venice, Comte de Montague from 1743 to 1744. Although it inspired him to love Italian music and opera, he quit after 11 months because of delayed payment for his work.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Discourse on Inequality, as well as The Social Contract, are considered to be modern social and political though cornerstones today.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was the most popular among the Jacobin Club's philosophes during the French Revolution.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau is credited with changing people's taste in music in France, as well as politically revolutionizing the country.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed in human rights and considered liberty to be at the forefront of these rights. He spent a great deal of his life trying to make countries around the world realize the importance of this politically.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote several books and other written works. He often signed his books 'Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Citizen of Geneva'.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a composer and created seven operas. These included Le Devin du Village (1752), Salve Regina (1752), Pygmalion (1762), Avril, Les consolations, Daphnis et Chloe, and Que le jour me dure!
Jean-Jacques Rousseau had a son with a seamstress but left because he didn't think he would be a good father due to how he was raised.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau died of a stroke in 1778 after suffering from repeated falls that are believed to have damaged his brain.


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