, a person distinguished more by his connections than by his works,
, a person distinguished
more by his connections than by his works, was born at
Berlin in 1702, and discovered early a taste for letters.
He was brought up to the church, but becoming acquainted with Frederic, then prince, and afterwards king
of Prussia, a friendship commenced between them of no
common sincerity; and when Frederic came to the throne,
he prevailed on Jordan to abandon the church and come to
court. Here he became the confidential friend of Frederic, and had the courage to give him on all occasions the
best advice, and to oppose to his face such measures as
he thought hurtful. Notwithstanding this freedom he was
advanced to several posts of profit and honour, and became
at length vice-president of the academy of sciences at
Berlin where he died in 1745. The king of Prussia erected a mausoleum over him, and also honoured him with the
following eloge “Jordan,
” says he, “was born with parts,
lively, penetrating, yet capable of application his memory
vast and retentive his judgment sure, his imagination
brilliant always governed by reason, yet without stiffness
in his morals; open in conversation, full of politeness and
benevolence; cherishing truth, and disguising it; humane,
generous, ready to serve; a good citizen; faithful to his
friends, his master, and his country.
” His merits as an
author do not give us so high an idea of him as the above
eloge, or as the more interesting account given by Thibault. His only writings were, “L‘Histoire d’un voyage
literaire,
” in France, England, and Holland. “Un Recueil de Littrature, de Philosophic, & de Histoire.
” A
Life of M. de la Croze, in French, &c.