Demosthenes (384–322 BC) was an Athenian statesman and orator widely regarded as one of the greatest rhetoricians of classical antiquity. After studying the speeches of past orators, he delivered his first judicial speeches at the age of twenty to successfully reclaim his inheritance from his guardians. He initially earned his living as a professional speechwriter (logographer) and lawyer, composing speeches for private legal suits in Athens.
His career shifted toward politics around 354 BC when he delivered his first public political speeches. Demosthenes dedicated his most productive years to opposing the expansion of Macedon under Philip II, striving to preserve Athens's freedom and restore its supremacy. He sought to unite the Greek states in an alliance against Macedonian influence, though these efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Following the death of Philip II, Demosthenes continued his opposition by leading Athens in an uprising against Alexander the Great. After the revolt failed, Alexander's successor, Antipater, pursued him. To avoid capture, Demosthenes took his own life. His rhetorical mastery was highly celebrated by ancient critics; the Alexandrian Canon named him one of the ten greatest Attic orators, while Cicero praised him as the "perfect orator."
