Molière

Molière
Portrait of Molière by Pierre Mignard (ca. 1658)
Born	Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622-01-15)15 January 1622 Paris, France
Died	17 February 1673(1673-02-17) (aged 51) Paris, France
Pen name	Molière
Occupation	Playwright, actor
Nationality	French
Period	1645–1673
Genre	Comedy
Notable works	Tartuffe; The Misanthrope; The Learned Women; The School for Wives; L'Avare
Spouse	Armande Béjart
Partner	Madeleine Béjart
Children	Louis (1664–1664) Marie Madeleine (1665–1723) Pierre (1672–1672)

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière (/moʊlˈjɛər/;French: [mɔ.ljɛːʁ]; 15 January 1622 – 17 February 1673), was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among Molière's best known works are The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, Tartuffe, The Miser, The Imaginary Invalid, and The Bourgeois Gentleman.

Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.

Through the patronage of aristocrats including Philippe I, Duke of Orléans—the brother of Louis XIV—Molière procured a command performance before the King at the Louvre. Performing a classic play by Pierre Corneille and a farce of his own, The Doctor in Love, Molière was granted the use of salle du Petit-Bourbon near the Louvre, a spacious room appointed for theatrical performances. Later, Molière was granted the use of the theatre in the Palais-Royal. In both locations he found success among Parisians with plays such as The Affected Ladies, The School for Husbands and The School for Wives. This royal favour brought a royal pension to his and the title Troupe du Roi ("The King's Troupe"). Molière continued as the official author of court entertainments.