Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment. October 5, 1713 – July 30, 1784; died at 70. Alive at the same time as Isaac Newton, Napoleon, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Ludwig van Beethoven, and George Washington. Wiki link