Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was born on 1 July 1646 in Leipzig, in the Electorate of Saxony, to Friedrich Leibniz and Catharina Schmuck. After his father's death when he was six, he was raised by his mother and had access to his father's extensive library, which fostered his early intellectual development. He enrolled at the University of Leipzig at age 14, earning a bachelor's degree in Philosophy by December 1662 and a master's degree in February 1664. He published a dissertation on philosophical problems related to law in December 1664 and completed his legal studies, obtaining a bachelor's degree in Law in September 1665. In 1666, he wrote his first book, De Arte Combinatoria, which included a geometrical proof of the existence of God.Leibniz's career began as a secretary to an alchemical society in Nuremberg, where he met Johann Christian von Boyneburg, who later introduced him to the Elector of Mainz. Leibniz was appointed assessor in the Court of Appeal in 1669 and began to gain recognition for his writings. He proposed a diplomatic plan to distract France from German territories, which gained the Elector's cautious support. In 1672, he moved to Paris, where he studied mathematics and physics under Christiaan Huygens and made significant contributions to calculus, independently of Isaac Newton. He also developed a calculating machine capable of performing basic arithmetic operations.In 1676, Leibniz accepted a position as a counselor to the House of Brunswick, where he served as a historian, political adviser, and librarian. He promoted various projects, including the use of windmills in mining operations, although these were not successful. His correspondence with influential figures, including the Electress Sophia of Hanover, helped him maintain a network of support. Leibniz's work on calculus continued, and he published important mathematical papers in the Acta Eruditorum, a journal he co-founded.Leibniz's philosophical contributions included his optimism, which posited that our world is the best possible world created by an all-knowing God. He was a key figure in 17th-century rationalism and idealism, and his ideas on monads and pre-established harmony influenced later philosophical thought. He engaged in a priority dispute with Newton over the invention of calculus, which overshadowed his later years. In 1712, he became an Imperial Court Councillor in Vienna, but his relationship with the new British King George I was strained due to the calculus controversy.Leibniz died on 14 November 1716 in Hanover, where he was buried without much recognition. His contributions to mathematics, philosophy, and various sciences were largely unappreciated during his lifetime. However, his reputation began to recover in the 18th century, and he became recognized as a significant figure in the history of philosophy and mathematics. His writings, which included works on law, ethics, and logic, were published posthumously, and his ideas continue to influence contemporary thought.