# Casimir Delavigne

> French poet and dramatist (1793-1843)

**Wikidata**: [Q126961](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126961)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_Delavigne)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/casimir-delavigne

## Summary

Casimir Delavigne was a French poet, dramatist, and librettist who lived from 1793 to 1843. He is recognized as a multi-faceted literary figure whose creative output spanned poetry, drama, and opera libretti, and who was affiliated with the prestigious Académie Française. His active writing career began in 1811 and continued through the first half of nineteenth-century France.

## Biography

- **Born:** 1793
- **Died:** 1843
- **Nationality:** France
- **Education:** Lycée Henri-IV (public school in Paris, France)
- **Known for:** Poetry, drama, and opera libretti
- **Occupations:** Poet, playwright, librarian, librettist, writer
- **Field(s):** Literature, poetry, drama
- **Affiliations:** Académie Française
- **Work Period (Start):** 1811

## Contributions

Casimir Delavigne's creative contributions were rooted in several literary forms. As a poet, he produced works within a literary style characterized by strong expressiveness of words. As a dramatist and playwright, he wrote formal literature intended for performance, with texts composed of character lines, author's remarks, and a structure typically divided into acts and scenes. He also contributed as a librettist, authoring the words — the libretto — for operas and similar extended musical compositions. His professional versatility extended beyond creative writing into librarianship, reflecting a career grounded in both the production and stewardship of literary works. All of these contributions were made within the broader context of French literature during the early-to-mid nineteenth century.

## FAQs

**What was Casimir Delavigne's full name?**
He is known by the aliases Jean François Casimir Delavigne and Jean-François Casimir Delavigne, in addition to his commonly used name, Casimir Delavigne.

**Where was Casimir Delavigne educated?**
He was affiliated with the Lycée Henri-IV, a public school in Paris, France, which was established in 1796.

**What professions did Casimir Delavigne hold?**
He worked as a poet, playwright, librettist, librarian, and writer, making his career diverse within the literary and performing arts world.

**Was Casimir Delavigne connected to any major institutions?**
Yes, he was affiliated with the Académie Française, the pre-eminent council for the French language, founded in 1635 and headquartered in Paris.

**When was Casimir Delavigne active as a writer?**
His documented work period began in 1811, and he continued producing literary works until his death in 1843.

## Why They Matter

Casimir Delavigne matters because he represents a significant strand of French literary culture during a transformative period in nineteenth-century France — an era that saw the transition from the First French Empire through subsequent political upheavals. His membership or affiliation with the Académie Française places him within the most authoritative institutional body governing the French language, underscoring the esteem in which his literary contributions were held. Working across poetry, drama, and opera libretti, Delavigne helped shape French literary and theatrical culture. His role as a librarian further suggests a commitment to the preservation and organization of knowledge, complementing his creative output. Without figures like Delavigne, the bridge between classical French theatrical traditions and the evolving Romantic sensibilities of the nineteenth century would be less firmly established.

## Notable For

- French poet and dramatist active from 1811 to 1843
- Affiliated with the Académie Française, the pre-eminent council for the French language
- Educated at or affiliated with Lycée Henri-IV, a prominent public school in Paris
- Multi-disciplinary literary career spanning poetry, drama, and libretto writing
- Professional work as a librarian alongside creative literary pursuits
- Contributor to French literature during a period that included the First French Empire and its aftermath

## Body

### Early Life and Education

Casimir Delavigne, also known as Jean François Casimir Delavigne or Jean-François Casimir Delavigne, was born in 1793 in France. He was associated with the Lycée Henri-IV, a public school located in Paris. The institution, established in 1796, has a long-standing reputation as one of France's notable educational establishments. His education at this school would have placed him in the heart of Parisian intellectual life during the years following the French Revolution.

### Career and Literary Output

Delavigne's active writing career began in 1811. He pursued multiple literary professions simultaneously, functioning as a poet, playwright, librettist, and writer. His poetic works fell within the tradition of poetry — a literary style defined by strong expressiveness of words. His dramatic works adhered to the formal conventions of drama, a genre of literature intended for performance, where text is structured around character lines and author's remarks, typically organized into acts and scenes. As a librettist, Delavigne authored the words for operas and similar extended musical compositions, contributing directly to the performing arts in France.

### Librarianship

In addition to his creative endeavors, Delavigne was also a librarian — a professional who works in a library and is typically trained in librarianship. This dual identity as both a creator and curator of literary works situates him uniquely within the French literary establishment.

### Institutional Affiliation

Delavigne was affiliated with the Académie Française, the pre-eminent council for the French language. The Académie was founded in 1635 and is headquartered in Paris. It operates within the industry classification related to its mission and is governed under French jurisdiction. Association with this body is a marker of significant literary distinction in French cultural life.

### Historical and Cultural Context

Delavigne's life spanned a period of dramatic change in France. Born in 1793 during the French Revolution, his career unfolded against the backdrop of the First French Empire (established May 18, 1804) and its aftermath. France during this period was a country in Western Europe with overseas territories, and its political transformations directly influenced literary production. Delavigne's contributions to poetry, drama, and the broader field of literature reflect the cultural currents of his time.

### Legacy

Casimir Delavigne died in 1843. His Wikipedia entry is maintained across 34 site links, indicating sustained international interest in his life and work. He is documented across Wikidata and linked academic sources as a notable figure in French literary history, recognized for his contributions to poetry, drama, and the operatic tradition.

## References

1. Archivio Storico Ricordi
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. datos.bne.es
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. Library of the World's Best Literature
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. CiNii Research
10. [Source](https://theaterencyclopedie.nl/wiki/index.php?curid=194961)
11. MusicBrainz
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. [Le Censeur. 1843](http://collections.bm-lyon.fr/BML_01PER0030221178?page=1)
14. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index3.html)
15. CONOR.SI
16. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
17. CollectieGelderland