1. Jean Chardin, born Jean-Baptiste Chardin, and known as Sir John Chardin, was a French jeweller and traveller whose ten-volume book The Travels of Sir John Chardin is regarded as one of the finest works of early Western scholarship on Safavid Iran and the Near East in general.
Jean Chardin was born in Paris, son of a wealthy merchant, jeweller of the Place Dauphine, and followed his father's business.
Jean Chardin issued an account of some events to which he was an eyewitness in Persia, entitled Le Couronnement de Soleiman Troisieme Paris, 1671.
Jean Chardin stayed at Isfahan four years, following the court in all its removals, and making particular journeys throughout the land, from the Caspian to the Persian Gulf and the river Indus, and visiting several Indian cities.
In 1681, Jean Chardin determined to settle in England because of the persecution of Protestants in France.
Jean Chardin was well received at court, and was after appointed court jeweller.
Jean Chardin carried on a considerable trade in jewels, and in the correspondence of his time was called 'the flower of merchants.
Jean Chardin did not live after to publish it, and after his death the manuscript was supposed to be lost.
Jean Chardin left his large Kempton Manor House and estate, Sunbury-on-Thames to his nephew Sir Philip Chardin Musgrave.
Jean Chardin had direct access to the Safavid court, and his descriptions of contemporary politics and administration are highly regarded.