BOUILLY, JEAN NICOLAS (1763-1842), French au thor, was born near Tours. Under the Revolution he helped to organize primary education, but retired in 1799. His numerous works include the musical comedy Pierre le Grand (1790), for Gretry's music, and the opera Lea Deux Journees (1800), music by Cherubini; also L' Abbe de l'epee (1800), and some other plays; and Causeries d'un vieillard (1807), Contes a ma fille (1809), and Les Adieux du vieux conteur (1835) . His Leonore (1798) formed the basis of the libretto of the Fidelio of Beethoven.
See Bouilly, Mes recapitulations (1836-37) ; E. Legouve, Soixante ans de souvenir (1 ere partie, 1886) .