Geneva's prosperity rose exponentially in the 18th Century, when businesses and banking flourished. In 1712, the famous philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, and eventually influenced the development of socialist theory, the French Revolution and Geneva’s nationalist movement through his groundbreaking political ideas. He also shared Geneva to the likes of another famous philosopher and writer, Voltaire, who lived here between 1775 and 1778.

Intellectual advances notwithstanding, Geneva was shaken by social and political agitation in the 18th Century. In 1792, the Geneva revolution ousted the Ancien Regime and political equality was proclaimed. France annexed the city in 1798 and made it the administrative centre of the Departement of Leman. The city was freed in 1813, after the defeat of Napoleon, and was integrated into the Swiss Confederation in 1815. Since then, Geneva has become a Swiss canton. 

In 1846, James Fazy led a revolt against the government, resulting in the drawing up of a constitution, which is still effective in the canton today. Geneva welcomed a large number of political refugees in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Moreover, the famous International Red Cross Committee was established in 1864 on the ideas of Geneva-born Henri Dunant; the first of many international organisations that eventually established headquarters in Geneva.
 
Vladimir Lenin lived in Geneva from 1903 to 1905, and returned in 1908. Geneva also preserves the heritage of the International Reformation Movement. In 1917, city authorities built the Reformation Wall to honor the leaders of this movement. After the First World War, Geneva emerged as a powerful political partner with international influence. The League of Nations, predecessor of the UN, established its headquarters here, and since 1946 the United Nations’ (UNs) European headquarters has been located in Geneva.