History Trivia Thread Reducks

[Oexmelin]

If you are thinking of John Law, no, that's not him. He died in 1729, in exile, in Venice.

(Though that guy sure lived an interesting life on its own merit).

[Razgovory]

I'm guessing Casanova.

[Maximus]

I forget the name but was he the guy that built 3 clockwork androids that still work? Czech iirc?

[Oexmelin]

He's a Casanova type alright. But not Casanova.

Max: perhaps you are thinking of Jacquet-Droz, the Swiss automaton maker.

[Zoupa]

Hungarian?

[Maximus]

Max: perhaps you are thinking of Jacquet-Droz, the Swiss automaton maker.

Yea that sounds right.

[Oexmelin]

Hungarian?

Nope, he's a French guy (and perhaps less well-known than I thought).

[Alatriste]

You surely can't mean the Count of St. Germain!!!

[Razgovory]

You surely can't mean the Count of St. Germain!!!

I know he knew Mozart and was a spy (or at least claimed to be).  Don't know about Voltaire but probably wasn't French.

[Savonarola]

Well, it's not quite fair, since I am teaching colonial history. I should have let others answer.

Who is this guy who links Mozart with Voltaire, clockmaking with arms selling, the American Insurgents to Louis XVI; spy, harpist, inventor, publisher, judge and speculator... (as well as his first occupation) ?

Pierre Beaumarchais?

[Caliga]

Although it sounds like the Count of St. Germain, wasn't he thought a complete fraud (i.e. never proved to have done any of the many things he claimed to do)?  If so then the question is a little misleading.

[Razgovory]

Although it sounds like the Count of St. Germain, wasn't he thought a complete fraud (i.e. never proved to have done any of the many things he claimed to do)?  If so then the question is a little misleading.

Well it's unlikely he was immortal but he did seem to be a talented chemist and musician. 

[crazy canuck]

I am dying to google.  There is something just on the edge of my memory but I just cant recall the name.  Does he have any connection with the low countries?

[Razgovory]

I think Sav got it right since I google that name and it fits.

[Oexmelin]

Well, it's not quite fair, since I am teaching colonial history. I should have let others answer.

Who is this guy who links Mozart with Voltaire, clockmaking with arms selling, the American Insurgents to Louis XVI; spy, harpist, inventor, publisher, judge and speculator... (as well as his first occupation) ?

Pierre Beaumarchais?

Yep, Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, he invented pedals for the harp, taught it to one of the daughters of Louis XV (IIRC), bought an office of judge of hunt and forest, made lots of money speculating, published the first edition of Voltaire's complete works, sold weapons to the American Insurgents under a false name (Hortalez) for which his heirs only got paid in the 1820s... and of course was an author. He is the one who wrote Figaro, which Mozart turned into the opera.