Chardin, Jean

Chardin, Jean, a famous French Oriental traveller, was born at Paris, Nov. 16, 1643. While vet scarcely of age he went to the East Indies to buy diamonds. From Surat he went to Persia, and remained six years at Ispahan. In 1670 he returned. home, but :went back again to Persia the next year, where, as well as in India, he remained until 1681. After his return he was knighted by Charles II of England, and was sent as plenipotentiary of England and agent of the Anglo-East-Indian Company 'to Holland. He died at London, Jan. 15, 1713. He is the author of a highly esteemed. work, Voyage en Perse et Autres Lieux de l'Oriente (Lond. 1686, 1711; new edition by L. Langles, Paris, 1811,10 vols.). See Lichtenberger Encyclop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.; Winer, Handbuch. der theol. Lit. i, 152; Rose, Gen. Biog. Diet. s. v,.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s..v. .(B. P.)