Regnard

Regnard, Jean Francois (1655-1709), French dramatist, was born at Paris of a well-to-do family, and on the death of his father travelled in Italy, where he gambled a great deal. On returning from a second visit he was captured by corsairs and taken to Algiers, and was ransomed after some time by the consul. He subsequently travelled in other European countries, but in 1683 obtained a Government post, and settled down to a literary career. His most famous writings are his plays, two of which, The Gambler and The Absent-minded Man, are masterpieces.