Birth of Jean-Jacques Rousseau28 June 1712
Jean-Jacques Rousseau is born in Geneva to Isaac Rousseau and Suzanne Bernard.
Historical person
Jean-Jacques Rousseau Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Jean-Jacques Rousseau, based on 10 World History Database records associated with France.
10 records1712–177810 events5 places
Chronological biography
1712
1728
Departure from Geneva1728
Rousseau leaves Geneva and begins years of travel, patronage and irregular employment.
1742
Musical Notation Proposal1742
Rousseau presents a new system of musical notation to the Academy of Sciences.
1750
Discourse on the Sciences and Arts1750
Rousseau wins the Dijon Academy prize by arguing that progress can corrupt morals.
1752
The Village Soothsayer1752
Rousseau's opera The Village Soothsayer is performed before the French court.
1755
Discourse on Inequality1755
Rousseau publishes the Discourse on Inequality, tracing social domination and artificial inequality.
1761
Julie or the New Heloise1761
Rousseau publishes Julie, a novel exploring virtue, passion, education and social convention.
1762
Emile1762
Rousseau publishes Emile, presenting a theory of education based on natural development.
The Social Contract1762
Rousseau publishes The Social Contract, grounding legitimate sovereignty in the general will.
1778
Death of Jean-Jacques Rousseau2 July 1778
Jean-Jacques Rousseau dies at Ermenonville, aged sixty-six.
Titles and roles
Philosopher
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.