BOISROBERT, FRANCOIS LE METEL DE (1592 1662 ), French poet, was born at Caen and died in Paris. He was introduced to Richelieu in 1623, and by his humour and his talent as a raconteur soon made himself indispensable to the cardinal. Boisrobert became one of the five poets who carried out Riche lieu's dramatic ideas. It was Boisrobert who formally suggested the first plan of the Academy, and he was one of its earliest and most active members. He wrote a number of comedies, to one of which, La Belle Plaideuse, Moliere's L'Avare is said to owe something.