Beaumarchais plays
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Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was born in Paris in 1732, the son of a watchmaker. He became a watchmaker himself, and at the age of 19 invented an escapement mechanism still used in watches today.
In 1756, at 24, Beaumarchais married a rich widow who died a year later. He found himself with a fortune -- the first of several he made and then lost.
Musically talented, he became harp teacher to the daughters of Louis XV in 1759. For two years (1764-65), he lived in Madrid. On his return to France, he began his career as a playwright. THE BARBER OF SEVILLE was written in 1770, but not presented on the stage until five years later.
Meanwhile Beaumarchais became an over- night literary success with the publication of his Memoires (1773-74). At the same time he served as a secret agent on behalf of the king. In 1775, THE BARBER OF SEVILLE was produced for the public and increased his fame.
The Frenchman became interested in the American Revolution and aided the revolutionary cause by organizing funds, arms, supplies, and ships.
Between 1779 and 1780, he wrote a sequel
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Pierre Beaumarchais was a French playwright, musician, inventor, watchmaker, spy, horticulturist, arms dealer, and revolutionary in both America and France. He rose to prominence in the court of Louis XV, inventing new technology and teaching music. He was also an active revolutionary who advocated on behalf of American independence to the French government. As a writer, he is most famous for writing the three "Figaro" plays.
Beaumarchais was born in Paris in 1732 to a watchmaker, a Huguenot (Protestant) who converted to Catholicism after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. At the age of 12, Beaumarchais became an apprentice to his father, making watches, and in the process, invented an improvement for the pocket watch to make it more practical; at the time, the pocket watch was more of an ornamental accessory rather than something that could accurately tell the time.
After marrying a widow named Madeleine-Catherine Aubertin, Beamarchais earned a post in the court of Louis XV, teaching the king's four daug
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Pierre Beaumarchais
French playwright, diplomat and polymath (1732–1799)
"Beaumarchais" redirects here. For other uses, see Beaumarchais (disambiguation).
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais ([pjeʁ(oɡystɛ̃kaʁɔ̃də)bomaʁʃɛ]; 24 January 1732 – 18 May 1799)[1] was a French polymath. At various times in his life, he was a watchmaker, inventor, playwright, musician, diplomat, spy, publisher, horticulturist, arms dealer, satirist, financier and revolutionary (both French and American).
Born a Parisian watchmaker's son, Beaumarchais rose in French society and became influential in the court of Louis XV as an inventor and music teacher. He made a number of important business and social contacts, played various roles as a diplomat and spy, and had earned a considerable fortune before a series of costly court battles jeopardized his reputation.
An early French supporter of American independence, Beaumarchais lobbied the French government on behalf of the American rebels during the American War of Independence. Beaumarchais oversaw covert aid from the French and
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