Baron D'Holbach

An earlier reference to the first modern Atheist since Classical antiquity here.

devastated conventional belief

"God's power is infinite -- whatever he wills is executed. But neither man nor any other animal is happy, therefore he does not will their happiness. Epicurus's old questions are yet unanswered: is he both able and willing to prevent evil? Then whence cometh evil?"

- David Hume [1711-1776]

An earlier reference to Hume here. An earlier reference to Epicurus here.

laid the groundwork for Atheism

"The world [I mean not the earth only but the universe, that is, the whole mass of all things that are] is corporeal [that is to say body] and hath the dimensions of magnitude [namely length, breadth, and depth] ... every part of the universe is body and that which is not body is no part of the universe. And because the universe is all, that which is no part is nothing. Nowhere. [Spirits are bodily]."

- Thomas Hobbes [1588-1679]

An earlier reference to Hobbes here.

1st Deist

"There is a Supreme Being; this sovereign power is to be worshipped. Common consent ordains this, though men differ as to the means. And this has always been believed: that all vices and crimes should be expiated and effaced by repentance."

- Lord Herbert of Cherbury [1583-1648]

An earlier reference to Cherbury here.

Polymath

The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault [1791-1824] is referenced by concerned polymath neurologist Sir Jonathan Miller on the BBC here. The Pogues appreciated too.

Sir Jonathan's "Rough History of Disbelief" Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

An updated blog reference to Géricault here.