About
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799) was a French writer and playwright, best known for his Figaro trilogy. Son of a watchmaker, he invented an escapement mechanism before purchasing ennobling offices. He became harp teacher to Louis XV's daughters and a secret agent. His Mémoires contre Goëzman (1774) made him famous. His plays The Barber of Seville (1775) and The Marriage of Figaro (1784) were hugely successful, the latter criticizing aristocratic privilege. He founded the Society of Dramatic Authors in 1777 and financially supported the American Revolution. He edited Voltaire's complete works (1783-1790).
* 1732-01-24 — † 1799-05-18
Major works
- Le Barbier de Séville (1775)play
- Le Mariage de Figaro (1784)play
- La Mère coupable (1792)play
- Mémoires contre Goëzman (1774)judicial pamphlets
- Tarare (1787)opera libretto
Key milestones
- 1753Invented a new watch escapement mechanism, defended before the Academy of Sciences.
- 1777Founded the Society of Dramatic Authors, the first society to defend playwrights' rights.
- 1776Created the shell company Rodrigue Hortalez & Cie to supply arms and aid to American revolutionaries.
Themes
Social satireCritique of aristocracyIntrigues and rusesAuthors' rightsFreedom and equality
Sources: britannica.com · data.bnf.fr · catalogue.bnf.fr