Ancillon, Jean Pierre Frederic

Ancillon, Jean Pierre Frederic a descendant of David Ancillon, was born at Berlin on the 30th of April, 1766. He studied theology, and on his return from the university he was appointed teacher at the military academy of Berlin, and preacher at the French church of the same town. He began his literary career by a work entitled "Melanges de Litterature et de Philosophie (Berlin, 1801, 2 vols. 8vo); and a few years after he was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences of Berlin, and was, at the same time, appointed its historiographer. His preaching at Berlin attracted the attention of the king, and he was drawn into political life. In 1806 he was appointed instructor of the Crown Prince of Prussia, and was further distinguished by the title of Councillor of State. In 1825 he was made Minister of Foreign Affairs, in which office he died, April 10, 1837. — Biog. Dict. Soc. Useful Knowledge; Haag, La France Protestante, 1, 90.