Francois Adricn Boieldieu', a French composer, born at Rouen, Dec. 15, 1775, died at Grosbois, near Bordeaux, Oct. 8, 1834. At an early age he was distinguished as a performer on the piano, for which he composed his first musical pieces. These were succeeded by duets for the harp and piano, and romances, remarkable for their simple and graceful melodies, several of which, as the Menestral and SiI est vraiqne d'etre deux., became very popular. In 1797, two years after his arrival in Paris, he was appointed professor of the piano at the conservatoire, and produced at the opera co-mique Lafamille suisse, which was succeeded by Le calife de Bagdad, Ma tante Av/rore, and other works, revealing fertility of invention, and a freshness and vivacity in the melodies which have never been surpassed on the French stage. In 1803, at the invitation of the czar Alexander I., he went to St. Petersburg to fill the place of imperial chapelmaster. He returned to Paris in 1811, and soon after brought out a number of works, among which were Jean de Paris, Les deux nuits, Le nouxeau seigneur du village, etc. In 1817 he was elected a member of the institute, soon after which appeared his Chaperon rouge, the gay and brilliant music of which fully justified the honor thus conferred upon him.

In 1825 he produced La dame blanche, esteemed his chef-d'oeuvre, which is still familiar to the English and American stage. An affection of the throat now compelled him to resign his professorship, but he was enabled to live comfortably on a pension from the conservatoire and an annual present from Charles X., until the revolution of July, 1830, deprived him of these sources of income. He was honored with a public funeral.