François d'Amboise le Métel de Boisrobert
Born in August 1, 1592 / Died in March 30, 1662 / France / French
Biography
Other info : Bibliography
François le Métel de Boisrobert was a French poet, playwright, and courtier.
He was born in Caen. He trained as a lawyer, later practising for a time in Rouen. He traveled to Paris in 1622 and established employment at court, for he had a share in the ballet of the Bacchanales performed at the Louvre in February. In 1630 visited Rome, where he won the favour of Pope Urban VIII and was made a canon of Rouen.
He was introduced to Cardinal Richelieu in 1623, and became one of five poets to inspire Richelieu's works. It was Boisrobert who suggested to Richelieu the plan of the Académie française, and he was one of its earliest and most active members. These efforts resulted in him becoming quite wealthy. After the death of Richelieu, he became affiliated with Mazarin, whom he served faithfully throughout the Fronde. In his later years, he dedicated much of his time to his duties as a priest.
He wrote a number of comedies and contributed to numerous others, including La Belle Plaideuse and Molière's L'Avare. Contes, published under the name of his brother D'Ouville, is also often largely attributed to him.
