Beaumarchais, Pierre-Augustin Caron de
(1732–1799)> DRAMATIST
Beaumarchais, Pierre-Augustin Caronde (24 January 1732, Paris; 18 May 1799, Paris), dramatist, started life as a watchmaker and made his initial contribution to the theatre with the parades he created for Mme de Pompadour’s husband, Lenormant d’Etioles. He was appointed to teach the harp to Louis XV’s daughters in 1760, and the following year he bought his way into nobility by purchasing the position of royal secretary as well as becoming lieutenant general of the king’s hunt. He then purchased…