The correspondence of Étienne Noël Damilaville traveled through France unexamined by censors, a privilege granted by his position as a senior civil servant in the tax office. By leveraging his official status, he acted as a critical conduit for communication between prominent Enlightenment thinkers, including Voltaire, Diderot, and d'Alembert, during periods of intense political and social friction.
Military and Administrative Career
Born in 1723 in Bordeaux, Damilaville transitioned through multiple professional spheres during his life. He served as a member of the Gardes de Corps for King Louis XV during the War of the Austrian Succession. Following his military service, he established himself as a lawyer before moving into the administrative sector. By 1755, he held a role as an administrator of the Vingtième, a specific tax regime within the Ancien Régime. Records suggest that his personal religious heterodoxy may have hindered further advancement within his career.
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Take the IQ test →Contributions to the Encyclopédie
Damilaville contributed three specific entries to the Encyclopédie: Population, Peace, and The Vingtième. His analysis of the Vingtième, which he is believed to have coauthored with Diderot, focused on the relationship between government, civil society, and the economy. Drawing a distinction between the state and the government, he argued for tax reform. He contended that tax burdens should be calculated based on an individual's remaining funds after necessary sustenance costs, rather than as a flat ratio of total income.
Network and Correspondence
His connection to Voltaire was particularly extensive. The two maintained a correspondence totaling at least 539 letters over an eight-year period. Despite this frequent written exchange, the men did not meet in person until 20 August 1765, when Damilaville visited Ferney. While Voltaire characterized him as having a tender and solid nature, other contemporaries were more critical. Melchior Grimm noted a lack of social grace and formal education in his assessment of Damilaville's character.
Fast facts
- Born: 1723, Bordeaux
- Died: 1768, Paris
- Nationality: French
- Encyclopédie contributions: Population, Peace, The Vingtième
- Military service: Gardes de Corps
- Key associates: Voltaire, Diderot, d'Alembert
Questions readers ask
What was Damilaville's role in the Encyclopédie?
He authored three articles for the work: Population, Peace, and The Vingtième.
How did he assist other thinkers of his time?
Because he worked as a senior civil servant in the tax office, his official correspondence was not censored, allowing him to circulate letters for figures like Voltaire.
