Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC), Roman orator and statesman, was born at Arpinum to a wealthy local family. He was taken to Rome for his education with the idea of a public career and, by the year 70, he had established himself as the leading barrister in Rome. In the meantime, his political career was well under way and he was elected praetor in 66. In addition to his speeches, Cicero produced a large number of works on the theory and practice of rhetoric, on religion, and on moral and political philosophy. He was put to death in 43 BC. Siobhan McElduff is Assistant Professor of Latin Language and Literature at the University of British Columbia.