Jordan Mrs Dorothea Bland

Jordan, Mrs. (Dorothea Bland), was born at Waterford, Ireland, in 1762, her mother being a strolling player. The girl made a brilliant debut as Phoebe in As You Like It at the Dublin Theatre, and then, coming over the water, adopted from this fact the stage name of "Jordan," appearing at Drury Lane in 1785. She soon became a great favourite in comedy, and her beauty and wit attracted the attention of the Duke of Clarence, with whom she lived maritally from 1790 to 1810, and bore him ten children, the eldest of whom was created. Earl of Munster. When it became obvious that the Duke would succeed to the throne, a separation was unavoidable. Her last appearance was at Covent Garden in 1814. After that misfortunes overtook her, bankruptcy followed, and she retired to St. Cloud, where she died neglected and penniless in 1816.