Dorothy Or Dora Jordan, an Irish actress, born near Waterford about 1762, supposed to have died at St. Cloud, July 3,1816. She was the daughter of a Capt. Bland, an Irish gentleman, who, having married her mother under age, procured the invalidation of the union. At 16 she made her debut in Dublin, under the name of Miss Francis, as Phebe in "As You Like It." She soon, under the name of Mrs. Jordan, by which she was afterward known, was engaged at the York theatre, where she remained for three years. She then went to London, and made her first appearance there Oct. 18, 1785, soon becoming immensely popular in comedy and musical farce. By her talents and remarkable beauty she attracted the attention of the duke of Clarence, afterward William IV. She was at that time under the protection of Mr. Richard Ford, and had several children, but yielded to the admiration of the royal duke. Her children by him were ten in number, and are known under the name of Fitz-Clarence. At the termination of this connection she went to France, and died there in obscurity and poverty. A monument by Chantrey was erected to her memory at St. Cloud by William IV. after his accession to the throne. Her professional career was brilliant.

She was of an amiable character and a kind heart, and her domestic duties were performed with devotion to the interests of her family. Her " Memoirs," by J. Boaden, were published in 1831. There is some mystery as to her retirement, which is not cleared up by her biographer, and it was generally supposed that she did not actually die at the time and place stated, but that she lived in England for seven years after under a different name.