The son of a magistrate, Second felt no taste for law and began a literary career.

Awarded the Legion of honour in 1859, he was Imperial commissioner of the Théâtre de l'Odéon from 1865 to 1870.

In 1869, Second was commissioned to write the words of the cantata sung at the Opera in honor of the centenary of Napoleon, which is remarkable only for its flat mediocrity.

Gifted with a light spirit, a fun and easy skill, Second was especially appreciated for his columns.

During the Revolution of 1848, he composed a cantata in which each stanza ended with these lines: Au dernier roi nous avons dit adieu (To the last king we said goodbye)La France est le soldat de Dieu (France is God's soldier !