Beaumont, Francis

Beaumont, Francis
(1584-1616), and Fletcher, John (1579-1625)
   Poets and dramatists. As they are indissolubly associated in the history of English literature, it is convenient to treat of them in one place. B. was the s. of Francis B., a Judge of the Common Pleas, and was b. at the family seat, Grace Dieu, Leicestershire. He was ed. at Oxford, but his f. dying in 1598, he left without taking his degree. He went to London and entered the Inner Temple in 1600, and soon became acquainted with Ben Jonson, Drayton, and other poets and dramatists. His first work was a translation from Ovid, followed by commendatory verses prefixed to certain plays of Jonson. Soon afterwards his friendship with F. began. They lived in the same house and had practically a community of goods until B.'s marriage in 1613 to Ursula, dau. and co-heiress of Henry Isley of Sundridge in Kent, by whom he had two dau. He d. in 1616, and is buried in Westminster Abbey. F. was the youngest s. of Richard F., Bishop of London, who accompanied Mary Queen of Scots to the scaffold. He went to Cambridge, but it is not known whether he took a degree, though he had some reputation as a scholar. His earliest play is The Woman Hater (1607). He is said to have died of the plague, and is buried in St. Saviour's Church, Southwark. The plays attributed to B. and F. number 52 and a masque, and much labour has been bestowed by critics in endeavouring to allocate their individual shares. It is now generally agreed that others collaborated with them to some extent--Massinger, Rowley, Shirley, and even Shakespeare. Of those believed to be the joint work of B. and F. Philaster and The Maid's Tragedy are considered the masterpieces, and are as dramas unmatched except by Shakespeare. The Two Noble Kinsmen is thought to contain the work of Shakespeare. As regards their respective powers, B. is held to have had the graver, solider, and more stately genius, while F. excelled in brightness, wit, and gaiety. The former was the stronger in judgment, the latter in fancy. The plays contain many very beautiful lyrics, but are often stained by gross indelicacy. The play of Henry VIII. included in Shakespeare's works, is now held to be largely the work of F. and Massinger. Subjoined is a list of the plays with the authorship according to the latest authorities.
   Woman Hater (1607), Faithful Shepherdess (1609), Bonduca (Boàdicea) (1618-19), Wit without Money (1614?), Valentinian (1618-19), Loyal Subjects (1618), Mad Lover (1618-19), Humorous Lieutenant (1618?), Women Pleased (1620?), Island Princess (1621), Pilgrim (1621), Wild Goose Chase (1621), Woman's Prize (? pub. 1647), A Wife for a Month (1624), Chances (late, p. 1647), perhaps Monsieur Thomas (p. 1639), and Sea Voyage (1622). (3) BEAUMONT and FLETCHER
   Four Plays in One (1608), King and No King (1611), Cupid's Revenge (1611?), Knight of Burning Pestle (1611), Maid's Tragedy (1611), Philaster (1611), Coxcomb (1612-13), Wits at Several Weapons (1614), Scornful Lady (1616), doubtfully, Thierry and Theodoret (1616), and Little French Lawyer (1620) perhaps by F. and Massinger, and Laws of Candy (?) perhaps by B. and Massinger. (4) FLETCHER and OTHERS
   Honest Man's Fortune (1613), F., Mass., and Field; The Captain (1613), and Nice Valour (p. 1647), F. and Middleton (?); Bloody Brothers (1616-17), F., Mid., and Rowley or Fielding and B. Jonson (?); Queen of Corinth (1618-19), F. and Row. or Mass. and Mid.; Barneveld (1619), by F. and Massinger; Knight of Malta (1619), False One (1620), A Very Woman (1621?), Double Marriage (1620), Elder Brother (p. 1637), Lover's Progress (p. 1647), Custom of the Country (1628), Prophetess (1622), Spanish Curate (1622), by F. and Shakespeare; Henry VIII. (1617), and Two Noble Kinsmen (p. 1634), by F. and Rowley, or Massinger; Maid of the Mill (1625-6), Beggar's Bush (?) (1622), by F. and Shirley; Noble Gentleman (?) Night Walker (1633?), Lovers Pilgrimage (1623?), Fair Maid of the Inn (1625-26), also with Middleton?
   The latest ed. is that of Mr. Bullen (11 vols., 1904), and A.R. Waller (7 vols., pub. C.U.P., 1909); Dyce (11 vols., 1843-46); Francis Beaumont, G.C. Macaulay (1883); Lyric Poems of B. and F., E. Rhys (1897); Bibliography, A.C. Potter in Harvard Bibliograph. Contributions, 1891.

Short biographical dictionary of English literature . . 2011.

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  • Beaumont, Francis — born с 1585, Grace Dieu, Leicestershire, Eng. died March 6, 1616, London British playwright. He is known chiefly for the 10 very popular plays on which he collaborated with John Fletcher (1579–1625) с 1606–13. These included the tragicomedies The …   Universalium

  • BEAUMONT, Francis — (c. 1585 1616) Francis Beaumont is best known for his partnership with John Fletcher,* chief dramatist, after William Shakespeare s* retirement, to the King s Men. His sa­tiric wit and sensibility differed markedly from Fletcher s, however, and… …   Renaissance and Reformation 1500-1620: A Biographical Dictionary

  • Beaumont, Francis — ( 1585, Grace Dieu, Leicestershire, Inglaterra–6 mar. 1616, Londres). Dramaturgo británico. Es principalmente célebre por diez obras de gran popularidad escritas en colaboración con John Fletcher (n. 1579–m. 1625) 1606–13. Entre estas cabe… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Beaumont,Francis — Beau·mont (bōʹmŏnt , mənt), Francis. 1584 1616. English poet and playwright. He wrote his major works, including The Maid s Tragedy (1611), The Coxcomb (1612), and The Knight of Malta (1619), with John Fletcher. * * * …   Universalium

  • BEAUMONT, FRANCIS —    dramatic poet, born in Leicestershire, of a family of good standing; bred for the bar, but devoted to literature; was a friend of Ben Jonson; in conjunction with his friend Fletcher, the composer of a number of plays, about the separate… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Francis Beaumont — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Dibujo de Francis Beaumont Francis Beaumont (Grace Dieu, 1584 – Londres, 1616 fue un poeta y dramaturgo renacentista inglés …   Wikipedia Español

  • BEAUMONT (F.) — BEAUMONT FRANCIS (1584 1616) Le nom de Francis Beaumont est indissolublement lié à celui de John Fletcher dont il fut le collaborateur constant, de 1606 jusqu’à sa mort. D’abord étudiant à Oxford, il vint faire du droit au Middle Temple à Londres …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Francis — Francis. Asteroide nº. 2050 de la serie (1974 KA), descubierto el 28 de mayo de 1974 por Eleanor Francis Helin desde Monte Palomar. La descubridora lo nombró en honor de sus padres Fred y Kay Francis. Lista de asteroides * * * Francis, turbina *… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Beaumont — Beaumont, Charles de ► C. de E.U.A., al SE de Texas, en el estuario del Neches River; 114 320 h. * * * (as used in expressions) Beaumont, Francis Beaumont, William Neilson, James Beaumont …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Beaumont — /boh mont/, n. 1. Francis, 1584 1616, English dramatist who collaborated with John Fletcher. 2. William, 1785 1853, U.S. surgeon. 3. a city in SE Texas. 118,102. 4. a male given name. * * * I City (pop., 2000: 113,866), southeastern Texas, U.S.… …   Universalium

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