ETIENNE, CHARLES GUILLAUME French dramatist and miscellaneous writer, was born near Saint Dizier, Haute-Marne, on Jan. 5, 1778. He wrote for the Paris theatres for 20 years from 1799 onwards, but he is remembered chiefly as the author of Les Deux Gendres, represented at the Theatre Francais on Aug. II, 181o, which brought its author a seat in the Academy, and an accusation of plagiarism from a play in the imperial library, entitled Conaxa, ou les gendres dupes. The bitterness of the attacks made on him was no doubt in part due to his position as editor-in-chief of the official Journal de l'Empire. The patriotic opera L'Oriflamme and his lyric masterpiece Joconde date from 1814. As secretary to Maret, duc de Bassano, Etienne had accompanied Napoleon throughout his campaigns in Italy, Germany, Austria and Poland. During these journeys he pro duced one of his best pieces, Brueys et Palaprat (1807). During the Restoration Etienne was an active member of the Opposition.
His Oeuvres (6 vols., 1846-53) contain a notice of the author by L. Thiesse.