Maquet was born in Paris in 1813. He studied at the Lycée Charlemagne where he became a professor at the age of 18. Trained as a historian, he turned to literature, and became close with such literary figures as Théophile Gautier and Gérard de Nerval. Through Nerval, he became acquainted with the already famous Dumas in 1838. Dumas was given a play by Maquet and rewrote it, producing the successful drama Bathilde.

The two started writing historical romances together, with Maquet outlining the plot and characters in draft form and Dumas adding colorful dialogue and details. At the insistence of the publisher, Maquet's name was left off the title page, and in return he received generous fees. In 1861, he became an officer of the Légion d'honneur. Unlike Dumas, Maquet died comfortably well-off. He is buried in Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

Maquet collaborated with Dumas on eighteen novels, and many plays. Among the works he co-authored with Dumas are:

• Bathilde (play, 1839) ... Maquet's original play was called Soir de carnaval.
• Le Chevalier d'Harmental ... Maquet's outline was called Bonhomme Buvat.
• Sylvandire (1843) ... Based on Les Mémoires de Madame la Marquise de Fresne by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras.
• La Fille du régent (1844)
• The Three Musketeers (1844) and its sequels Twenty Years After (1845) and Le Vicomte de Bragelonne (1848—1850)
• The Count of Monte-Cristo (1844)
• Queen Margot (1845) and its sequels La dame de Monsoreau (1845) and Les Quarante-Cinq (1847) and the play version (1847)
• Joseph Balsamo (1848)
• The Queen’s Necklace (1850)
• The Black Tulip (1850)

Maquet also wrote a number of historical novels and plays on his own.