Pierre Beaumarchais The largest French playwright of the second half of the 18th century. Date of Birth: 24.01.1732 Country: France

Biography of Pierre Beaumarchais

Pierre Beaumarchais was the greatest French playwright of the second half of the 18th century. He was born on January 24, 1732, in Paris, into a wealthy watchmaker's family. Although he was initially trained in the family trade, his extravagant behavior led his father to remove him from the business.

Beaumarchais became a music teacher to the daughters of Louis XV and later obtained a position as a secretary to the monarch. Thanks to his connections at the royal court, he actively participated in various financial operations that brought him immense wealth but also exposed him to a series of high-profile legal proceedings. He spent several days in prison, and in order to defend himself, he published his brilliant memoirs in 1774, where he scathingly mocked the corruption of the judiciary.

His love for the theater prompted him to write two plays. "Eugenie" (1767) was well-received, while "Les Deux Amis" (1770) faced a devastating failure. However, Beaumarchais gained national prominence with his play "Le Barbier de Seville" (1775). It was performed at the "Theatre Francais" on February 23, 1775, and though it had a Spanish setting, it embodied the spirit of France. The play's outstanding significance was not only due to its sparkling humor and brilliant dialogues but also to the character of Figaro - a resourceful, witty, and insightful servant. Based on this play, Gioachino Rossini composed the libretto for the opera "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" (1816).

The character of Figaro reappeared in Beaumarchais' next play, "Le Mariage de Figaro" (1784). This play fiercely attacked feudal privileges, which led to the king prohibiting its public performance. However, Beaumarchais cleverly used the censorship ban to generate even more interest in the play. When it was finally staged at the "Theatre Francais" on April 27, 1784, three people died in the stampede at the doors caused by the frenzied crowd.

With its appearance on the eve of the French Revolution, Figaro symbolized the triumph of the ideas that had been maturing for decades in the works of Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot, and other philosophers. Figaro's sharp remarks and clear allusions earned the comedy an enduring reputation on the theatrical stage. This play served as the basis for the libretto of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "Le Nozze di Figaro" (1786).

Beaumarchais attempted to use the same characters for the third time, but his heavy-handed melodrama "La Mere coupable" (1792) did not find success.

The revolution added another chapter to Beaumarchais' biography. Sent by the revolutionary government to Holland, he carried out several missions but was eventually thrown into prison. After his release, he became an agent of the Committee of Public Safety and faced persecution as an emigrant. His property was confiscated, and his family was arrested. In 1796, he was allowed to return to France. Beaumarchais died in Paris on May 18, 1799.