Person Chardin; Sir; John (1643 - 1712) Chardin John Sir Jean-Baptiste Jean 1643 - 1712 French Male Paris, France, Europe 16 November 1643 16431116 Turnham Green, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom, Europe 5 January 1713 17130105 Baptism: Charenton, near Paris, France, Europe (24 November 1643) Burial: Chiswick Church, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom, Europe (9 January 1713)

Holland House, Kensington, Middlesex (1682)

Jeweller Career: Followed his father's business as a jeweller; travelled to Persia (1666), where he became the Shah's agent for the purchase of jewels; visited India (1667) and Constantinople (1671-1672); stayed at Ispahan (1673-1677); published accounts of his travels on his return to Europe (1677); a Huguenot, he moved to England (1681) to escape persecution; naturalised British (1682, 1685); Court Jeweller to Charles II; Envoy to Holland (1684); Agent to the HEIC Honours: Kt 1681 Parents: Daniel Chardin and Jeanne Guiselin Married: Esther de Lardiniere Peigne After travelling within Asia with merchant Antoine Raisin, Chardin's return to France and his reports on the jewellery trade and diamond industry there spurred interest in East Indies trade. His publication of court politics even provoked a succession crisis around Suleiman III. Fellows of the Royal Society, John Evelyn (FRS 1663) and Christopher Wren (FRS 1663), were dispatched to make contact with Chardin after his return to Europe. Chardin was an agent to and shareholder in the Honorable East India Company (HEIC), an English and later British company formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region. The company ended up seizing control of large parts of the Indian subcontinent (and briefly Afghanistan) and colonised parts of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Originally chartered as the Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East-Indies, by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600, the East India Company rose to account for half of the world's trade, thereby amassing vast wealth, influence and private armies. The East India company enslaved people and exploited them for labour across their territories from 1621 until abolition of slavery in India in 1843. Throughout his life, Chardin worked hard to expand English trade in India and worked with Sir Josiah Child, director of the East India Company. He was instrumenal in negotiating a treaty for Armenian merchants in Persia. Chardin was also a charter member of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). SPG was formed in 1701 and was a Church of England missionary organisation aiming to establish new churches in colonised regions, limiting the influence of, for example, Quakers and converting Native Americans and free and enslaved Africans and African Americans to Christianity. As part of its activity in Barbados, the Society later became owners of a slave labour sugar plantation. Occasional correspondent to the Society; Donated some books on Persia (1682); Ejected due to non-payment of arrears 22 July 1685 Fellow 30/11/1682 39 Sir Christopher Wren 22 July 1685 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; Hunter; Shaw LD; ODNB Emerson, J. 'Chardin, Sir John', Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. V, pp. 369-377 Glasson, T. 2012. 'The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts', in Atlantic History [DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199730414-0067; last accessed 19/10/22] Notes: Old style date of death 25 December 1712. Chardin P0021.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 RCN: 32801 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH1670 16 Nov 1643 - 25 Dec 1712 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 19/10/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA3532 21/11/2001 Andyg pmab 15/01/2026 RS_NET\VidaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/49223162 c4de4181-83a9-467e-9b74-13af9d13c3e4