Michael de Montaigne was not well known for his writing during his time period, but more for his gambling. He was often spotted at the gambling tables in France. Today we consider him more of a French Renaissance man who was extremely influential due to his writings. Michael de Montaigne lived from 1533 to 1592. Besides being a gambler in those days, Montaigne was also considered a statesman. The most well known work of his was called Essais, which is considered the “most widely influential” group of written works. Rene Descartes, Emerson, Blaine Pascal and many believe William Shakespeare were moved by his works.
Montaigne like many men who have time to spend on gambling was considered very rich during his time period. His family made their money with herring. The great grandfather was a herring merchant and eventually the family bought an estate in 1477. It was then that the grandfather became Lord of Montaigne. Montaigne’s father was a French Roman Catholic soldier for Italy, as well as the mayor of Bordeaux.
Michael de Montaigne was given an interesting life from the time he was a boy. His father wanted him to be close to the people so he sent the baby for the first three years to live in a small cottage near the peasant families. He was taught Latin as his first language and tutored in intellectual education. It is this lifestyle that allowed him to have freedom in thinking and an understanding of what all people live like. He learned that some people do suffer. It was said that if he was bored he would play a tune.
It is unknown when he turned to gambling as a pastime, but chances are he was drawn into it during his youth while at school or later when he was at court for Charles IX. Something like gambling that requires a lot of thought, math, and strategy would have appealed to a man whose mind was very active. From 1570 to 1580 he was in seclusion which was self imposed. It was also the opportunity for him to write his essays, which became a work of 1,500.
Montaigne also became the mayor of Bordeaux. He was elected and then re-elected when his original post was up. He also travelled a great deal to find a cure for his kidney stones, which was an inherited family issue.
According to the history books Montaigne died of quinsy which is peritonsillar abscess or PTA which occurs as a result of tonsillitis. It is a condition that back then went untreated and therefore led to death. Earlier when he was with Charles IX he was named as a Saint. It is one of the reasons that his heart was preserved upon his death and is now in the parish church called Saint Michael de Montaigne. Though he was known more for his statesmen and writing work he was still known as a gambler from an early era where card games were often the most popular.