Jordan, Dorothy or Dorothea, n�e Bland 1762-1816
Irish actress

She was born near Waterford, Ireland, and made her debut in Dublin (1777). She soon became popular, and was engaged by Tate Wilkinson at Leeds in England (1782). Moving to London, she appeared with great success at Drury Lane in The Country Girl in 1785 and was well known for playing mainly comic tomboy roles for nearly 30 years. From 1790 to 1811 she had a liaison with the Duke of Clarence (the future William IV), by whom she had 10 of her 15 children. After playing in London and in the provinces until 1814, she is said to have been forced to retire to France for a debt of �2,000. In 1831 King William made their eldest son Earl of Munster.

Bibliography: Clare Tomalin, Mrs Jordan's Profession: The Story of a Great Actress and a Future King (1994)