Molière Sagnier. Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière (; ; 15 January 162217 February 1673), was a French playwright, actor and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and universal literature. His extant works includes comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets, and more. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed at the Comédie-Française more often than those of any other playwright today. His influence is such that the French language itself is often referred to as the "language of Molière". Born into a prosperous family and having studied
Jean-Baptiste Marchand Jean-Baptiste Marchand General Jean-Baptiste Marchand (2 November 1863 – 13 January 1934) was a French military officer and explorer in Africa. Marchand is best known for commanding the French expeditionary force during the Fashoda Incident. Marchand was born in Thoissey, Ain. In 1883 he enlisted as a volunteer "soldat" (private soldier) in the 4th Regiment of Marine Infantry based at Toulon. In April 1886 he attended "l’Ecole militaire de Saint-Maixent" - the French military academy for training officers promoted from the ranks. He was commissioned as a "sous-lieutenant" on 18 December 1887, at the age of 24. After serving in