Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov
Playwright, Uncle Vanya

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born the son of a grocer and brought up in a small port town on the Sea of Azov, eventually going to the University of Moscow to train as a doctor. On graduation, he practiced medicine and wrote for The St. Petersburg Gazette. After the first production of his play The Seagull failed, Chekhov swore that he would never have another play produced. But he was persuaded to revive the play, and it became recognized as an important new drama. In 1904, after the first production of The Cherry Orchard, Chekhov suffered two heart attacks and died.