MEILHAC, HENRI (1831–1897), French dramatist, was born in Paris on the 21st of February 1831, and while a young man began writing fanciful articles for the newspapers and vaudevilles for the theatres, in a vivacious boulevardier spirit which brought him to the front. About 1860 he met Ludovic Halévy, and the two began a collaboration in writing for the stage which lasted for twenty years. An account of their work is given under Halévy. Meilhac wrote a few pieces with lesser collaborators. In 1888 he was elected to the Academy. He died at Paris in 1897.