Peter Anthony Motteux
Peter Anthony Motteux was a notable figure in the early 18th century, best known for his translations of significant literary works, including François Rabelais's "Gargantua and Pantagruel" and Miguel de Cervantes's "Don Quixote de la Mancha." Born as Pierre-Antoine le Motteux in Rouen, France, on February 25, 1663, he emigrated to England following the Edict of Fontainebleau, which persecuted Protestants in France. In London, he became immersed in the literary scene, editing "The Gentleman's Journal" and producing a substantial body of work as a dramatist, including plays, masques, and operas. His most recognized plays include "The Rape of Jupiter by Europa" and "Love's Triumph," and he collaborated with other prominent literary figures, earning praise for his ability to express himself fluently in English despite being a foreigner. Tragically, Motteux's life ended violently on February 18, 1718, under mysterious circumstances involving a brothel and subsequent accusations of murder and robbery against several individuals. His unresolved murder captivated the public and remains a point of intrigue in his legacy.
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Peter Anthony Motteux
Playwright
- Born: February 25, 1663
- Birthplace: Rouen, France
- Died: February 18, 1718
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
Peter Anthony Motteux attained prominence chiefly in connection with his excellent translations of two major works of fiction: François Rabelais’s Gargantua and Pantagruel, which he finished and edited the work begun by Thomas Urquhart, and Miguel de Cervantes’s Don Quixote de la Mancha. He also gained some notoriety for the sensational and very mysterious circumstances that surrounded his death. However, he was also a dramatist and he contributed a number of plays, masques, and operas to the London theaters.
He was born Pierre-Antoine le Motteux in Rouen, France, on February 25, 1663. He was in his early twenties when King Louis XIV issued the Edict of Fontainebleau (sometimes called the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes) on October 18, 1685. As a result of this edict, it immediately became dangerous for Protestants to remain in France. Two-thirds of the Huguenot society in Rouen opted to emigrate, Motteux among them. He settled in London, anglicized his name, and for a time made a living as a shopkeeper and auctioneer. He very soon became involved in literary endeavors, serving as editor of the monthly magazine The Gentleman’s Journal, which put him in contact with many of the literary figures of the day. He married twice. His first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1694, a little more than three years after their wedding. He married Priscilla, his second wife, in 1699, and the two had seven children, three of whom died in infancy.
For a little more than a decade, Motteux was a quite prolific dramatist. His first play, The Rape of Jupiter by Europa, was produced around 1694, and his last, Love’s Triumph, was produced in 1708 at London’s Queen’s Theatre. In between these productions, he turned out several plays, masques, and opera librettos. Among these works are the comedies She Ventures and He Wins (1696) and The Novelty (1697) and the tragedy, Beauty in Distress (1698). He wrote two masques, The Loves of Mars and Venus (1696) and Acis and Galatea (1701). His opera librettos include The Island Princess (1699), Thomyris, Queen of Seythia (1707), and Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus (1705).
John Dryden wrote the preface to Beauty in Distress defending it against an attack by writer Jeremy Collier. Dryden offered this praise of Motteux’s literary artistry: “But whence art thou inspir’d, and thou alone / To flourish in an idiom not thine own? / It moves our wonder, that a foreign guest / Should over-match the most, and match the best.”
Mottreux devoted the last decade of his life to importing art and merchandise from the East Indies. His murder on February 18, 1718, has never been solved. That evening he had put on his scarlet cloak (which was to become famous as part of the story) and went out on the town. A prostitute named Mary Roberts brought him to her brothel where he met his death. The madam, Elizabeth Simmerton, and two others were charged with murder and robbery. A long and celebrated trial at Old Bailey resulted in acquittal to the surprise of all London. The court record suggests that an attempt to strangle Mottreux in order “to provoke venery” had gotten out of control. His death is especially mysterious because the life he led up to that point appears to have been very different from his activities on this sordid evening.