
A Real Figaro: Pierre Beaumarchais, Part One
From The Art of Crime by Gavin Whitehead
April 8, 2026 · 44 min · Season 6 · Episode 16
About this episode
The episode explores the life of Pierre Beaumarchais, focusing on his role as a watchmaker and his secret mission for Louis XV.
Pierre Beaumarchais made a name for himself as a watchmaker, working for none other than Louis XV. But Beaumarchais was a man of many talents, including espionage, and when Louis found himself blackmailed by a rogue pamphleteer, the king dispatched Beaumarchais on a secret mission to find the blackmailer and stop him. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast . For show notes and full transcripts, please visit www.artofcrimepodcast .
People in this episode
Host: Gavin Whitehead
Topics covered
- espionage
- blackmail
- watchmaking
- French history
- Louis XV
- Pierre Beaumarchais
Keywords
- Pierre Beaumarchais
- Louis XV
- espionage
- blackmail
- watchmaker
- French history
Sponsors
Patreon
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