Belloy

Belloy, PIERRE LAURENT BUIRETTE DE, one of the first French dramatists who ventured to introduce on the stage native instead of classical heroes. He was born at St Flour, in Auvergne, in 1727, and educated for the law; but the seductions of the stage proved irresistible, and under the name of Dormont he played for some years at St Petersburg and other northern cities. In 1758 he returned to France to superintend the bringing out of his tragedy Titus, trusting that its success would reconcile his family to him. In this, however, he was disappointed, for the piece proved a failure, being only a feeble imitation of Metastasio, and he returned to St Petersburg. In 1762 he again visited France, and obtained a decided success by his tragedy of Zelmire. It was followed by Le Siège de Calais (1765), Gaston et Bayard (1771), and Pierre le Cruel (1772). He died at Paris, 5th March 1775. His collected works were edited by Gaillard in 6 vols. in 1779; a selection by Anger in 2 vols. appeared in 1811.