Beaumont, Francis

Francis Beaumont (1584-1616) was an English playwright, mainly remembered for his successful collaboration with John Fletcher. Beaumont's most famous plays include "The Woman Hater" and "The Knight of the Burning Pestle". He began to collaborate with Fletcher in about 1606-08, and their first success came in 1609 with "Philaster", followed a year later by "The Maid's Tragedy" and "A King and No King". Together, they wrote at least six plays; in a further seven or eight cases the attribution is probable but not certain.