Pierre augustin caron de beaumarchais biography sampler

French playwright, diplomat and polymath (1732–1799)

"Beaumarchais" redirects here.

Pierre augustin caron de beaumarchais biography sampler

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