COLLIN D'HARLEVILLE, JEAN FRANcOIS 755— 18o6), French dramatist, was born at Mevoisins, near Maintenon (Eure-et-Loire), on May 3o, '755. His best plays are L'Optimiste, ou l'homme toujours content (1788), and Le Vieux Celibataire (i 793). Collin was one of the original members of the Institute of France, and died in Paris on Feb. 24, 1806.
The 1822 edition of his Theatre et poesies fugitives contains a notice by his friend the dramatist Andrieux. His Theatre was also edited by L. Moland in 1876; and by Edouard Thierry in 1882.