Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach
Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach (8 December 1723 – 21 January 1789[1]) was a French-German author, philosopher and encyclopedist. He was an important figure in the French Enlightenment. He was born Paul Heinrich Dietrich in Edesheim, near Landau in the Rhenish Palatinate. He spent most of his life in Paris, where he kept a salon. He is best known for his atheism. He wrote a lot. Most of his writings are against religion. His best-known book is the System of Nature.
Paul Heinrich Dietrich | |
|---|---|
 Paul Heinrich Dietrich, Baron d'Holbach | |
| Era | 18th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western Philosophy |
| School | French materialism |
Main interests | Atheism, Determinism, Materialism |
Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron D'Holbach Media
Insight into the Ludwigstrasse in Edesheim (Rhineland-Palatinate). The birthplace of Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach was in the house n° 4. Old picture postcard from 1940.
Segment of his baptism certificate
Franz Adam Holbach's, or Adam François d'Holbach's house in Edesheim, Schloss Kupperwolf
Kasteel Heeze te Heeze, since the year 1733 in possession of François Adam d'Holbach. In 1735 additional buildings were erected. Paul Henri Thiry Holbach inherited this estate in 1750.
Portrait of Mme Charlotte Suzanne d´Holbach, his second wife. Oil painting from Alexander Roslin (1718–1793)
Le Château de Grand-Val; view of the park site
Paul Heinrich Dietrich Baron d'Holbach
D'Holbach by Louis Carmontelle
Church of Saint-Roch, front view of the church in which he and his friend Denis Diderot were buried.
References
- ↑ Sources differ regarding d'Holbach's dates of birth and death. His exact birthday unknown, although records show that he was baptised on 8th December 1723. Some authorities incorrectly give June 1789 as the month of his death.