Charles Montesquieu
/ˈmɒntəskjəː
/ /ˈmɒntəsjkuː/ /mɔ̃tɛskjø/Baron de La Brède et de (1689–1755), French political philosopher; born Charles Louis de Secondat. His reputation rests chiefly on L’Esprit des lois (1748), a comparative study of political systems in which he championed the separation of judicial, legislative, and executive powers as being most conducive to individual liberty.