BRETON DE LOS HERREROS, MANUEL (1796 1873), Spanish dramatist, was born at Quel (Logrono) and was educated at Madrid. Enlisting in 1812, he served against the French in Valencia and Catalonia, and retired with the rank of corporal in 1822. His first piece, A la vejez viruelas, was produced in 1824, and proved the writer to be the legitimate successor of the younger Moratin. During the next four years he composed 39 plays, six of them original, the rest being translations or recasts of classic masterpieces. His plays were a long series of successes. He wrote some 36o original plays, 23 of which are in prose. No Spanish dramatist of the I yth century approaches him in comic power, while his metrical dexterity is unique. Marcela o a cual los tres? (1831) , Muere to ; y nerds! (1837), and La Escuela del matrimonio (1852), are perhaps his best plays.