Dorothea Jordan
Dorothea Jordan | |
|---|---|
 Mrs. Jordan in the Character of Hippolyta, painting by John Hoppner, first exhibited 1791 (previously in the National Gallery and Tate collections, now on loan to the National Portrait Gallery[1]) | |
| Born | Dorothea Bland (1761-11-22)22 November 1761 County Waterford, Ireland |
| Died | 5 July 1816(1816-07-05) (aged 54) Saint-Cloud, France |
| Occupation | Actress and courtesan |
| Partner(s) | Richard Daly Charles Doyne Tate Wilkinson George Inchbald Richard Ford William IV of the United Kingdom |
| Children | Frances Alsop Dorothea Maria March Lady Lucy Hester Hawker George FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster Henry FitzClarence Sophia Sidney, Baroness De L'Isle and Dudley Lady Mary Fox Lord Frederick FitzClarence Elizabeth Hay, Countess of Erroll Lord Adolphus FitzClarence Lady Augusta Hallyburton Lord Augustus FitzClarence Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland |
Dorothea Jordan (22 November 1761 – 5 July 1816) also known interchangeably as Mrs Jordan, and previously Miss Francis or Miss Bland, was an Anglo-Irish actress, courtesan, and the mistress and companion of the future King William IV of the United Kingdom, for 20 years (1791-1811) while he was Duke of Clarence. Together they had ten illegitimate children, all of whom took the surname FitzClarence.
Contents
1 Early Life
2 Theatrical Career
3 Early Relationships
4 Relationship with William IV
5 Later Life
6 Notable Descendants
7 Bibliography
8 References
9 External link
Early Life
Dorothea (often called Dorothy or Dora) Bland was born near Waterford, Ireland, on 22 November 1761, and was baptised at St Martin in the Fields, Middlesex, on 5 December of that year.[2] She was the third of six children born from Francis Bland (b. 1736 – d. Dover, 2 January 1778) and his mistress, Grace Phillips (b. ca. 1740 – d. Edinburgh, 1789). Her older siblings are George Bland (c. 1758 – Boston, Massachusetts, 1807; actor and singer) and Hester Bland (baptised at St Anne Soho, Middlesex, 2 March 1760 – buried at St David's, as of Trelethin, 8 March 1848), and her younger siblings are Lucy Bland (1763/64 – Trelethin, St David's, 1778, aged 14), Francis Bland (fl. 1813; a captain, unmarried and without issue) and Nathaniel Phillips Bland (born 1766/67 – buried at St David's, Pembrokeshire, 3 June 1830, aged 63).[2]
Her paternal grandparents were Nathaniel Bland (Killarney, co. Kerry, 1695/96 – 1760), Vicar General of Ardfert and Aghada, and Judge of the Prerogative Court of Dublin, Ireland, and his second wife Lucy (née Heaton).[2] The reports about Dorothea's maternal ancestry are very sketchy, although it is generally stated that Grace Phillips was probably the daughter of a Welsh clergyman (who lived in the early 1750s in Bristol) but he has not been identified with certainty.[2]
Before April 1774, when she was 13, Dorothea's father, who worked as a stagehand, abandoned the family[2] to marry an Irish actress. However, he continued to support the family by sending them meagre sums of money. This situation forced Dorothea to work to help her siblings. Her mother, an actress by profession, saw potential in Dorothea and put her on the stage. Dora became a famous actress and was said to have the most beautiful legs ever seen on the stage.
Theatrical Career
The historical record of Jordan's first stage appearance is not clear. Some sources claim that Jordan made her debut in 1777 in Dublin, as Phoebe in As You Like It, whilst others that suggest she premiered as Lucy in the Interlude The Virgin Unmask'd, on the 3rd November 1779.[3] The knowledge of Jordans's time and other roles performed in Ireland is fragmentary, however documentation shows her her last appearance in Dublin came on the 16th May 1782 when she spoke the The Maid of Oaks' Prologue. At the time she was pregnant with the illegitimate son of the married theatre manager of the Smock Alley Theatre, Richard Daly. Rumours spread and they fled to England, specifically Leeds, where she was employed by Tate Wilkinson, manager of the York Company.[4] Her first performance in England was the tragic role of Calista in The Fair Penitent, for which she had been tutored for by the scholar Cornelious Swan.[5] Swan wrote to Tate to express his amazement at Jordan's talents:
‘“For really Wilkinson,” said he, “I have given the Jordan but three lessons, and she is so adroit at receiving my instructions, that I declare she repeats the character as well as Mrs. Cibber ever did”’ [6]
Though no specific dates can be sourced, Dora is believed to have performed her prized role as Lady Teazle in Sheridan's The School for Scandal before she arrived in London.[7] In 1785, she made her first London appearance at Drury Lane as Peggy in A Country Girl. The Morning post the next morning reported her performance as such:
'Nature has endowed her with talents sufficient to combat and excel her competitors in the same walk. Her person and manner are adapted for representing the peculiarities of youthful innocence and frivolity; and her tones of voice are audible and melodious.'. [8]
Mrs. Jordan in her role of Peggy in "The Country Girl", David Garrick's tamer adaption of Wycherley's earlier, more scandalous play "The Country Wife".
Gradually, it came to be recognised that her talent lay in comedy, she was acclaimed for her "naturalness" on stage, and called a 'child of nature'[9], a slightly derogatory term for someone who is of illegitimate birth[9]. Audiences also enjoyed her performances in breeches roles[10] such as Viola in Twelfth Night[6], Sir Harry Wildair in The Constant Couple and William in Rosina. "
Despite her being 'the most admired comic actress of her time',[5] Jordan was also a competent Shakespearean and tragic actress, playing the roles of Ophelia, Imogen in Cymbeline and Zara by Adam Hill.[6] When she first auditioned for Wilkinson, when she was asked whether she preferred 'tragedy, comedy or opera?' she answered "All"[11]
Her engagement at Drury Lane lasted until 1809, and she played a large variety of parts. During the rebuilding of Drury Lane she played at the Haymarket; she transferred her services in 1811 to Covent Garden. Here, in 1814, she made her last appearance on the London stage, and the following year, at Margate, retired altogether.[12]
During her time on the stage she wrote the popular song The Bluebells of Scotland, published under her name around 1800.[13]
In 1815, the renowned theatre critic, William Hazlitt, wrote:
'Mrs Jordan's excellences were all natural to her. It was not as an actress, but as herself, that she charmed everyone. Nature had formed in her most prodigal humour; and when nature is in the humour to make a woman all that is delightful, she does it most effectually. . . Mrs Jordan, the child of nature, whose voice was a cordial to the heart, because it came from it, rich, full, like the luscious juice of the rich grape.'[9]
Early Relationships
She had an affair with her first manager, Richard Daly, the manager of the Theatre Royal, Cork, who was married, and had an illegitimate child with him:
Frances Daly (also called Fanny; born in September 1782; she later changed her name to Frances Bettesworth in 1806 and married Thomas Alsop in 1809).[14]
In England, she had a short-lived affair with an army lieutenant, Charles Doyne, who proposed marriage. But she turned him down and went to work for the theatre company operated by Tate Wilkinson. It was at this point she adopted the name "Mrs. Jordan" – a reference to her escape across the Irish Sea, likened to the River Jordan.[15] She appeared at Wilkinson's York Circuit theatres, including The Theatre, Leeds, where she complained of uncomfortable working conditions.[16]
Shortly after her affair with Wilkinson was over, she began an affair with George Inchbald, the male lead in the Wilkinson company. According to Claire Tomalin, Dorothea's biographer, Dorothea would have married Inchbald, so greatly was she in love with him, but he never asked. Brokenhearted, she left him in 1786 to begin an affair with Sir Richard Ford, a police magistrate and a lawyer. She moved in with Ford when he promised to marry her. They had three illegitimate children:[17]
- Dorothea Maria Ford (born August 1787, married Frederick Edward March in 1809).[18]
- A son (who died at birth in October or November 1788).
- Lucy Hester Ford (born 1789, married Samuel Hawker—later General and Sir—in 1810).
She left him to begin her affair with the Duke of Clarence, once she realized that Ford was never going to marry her.[19] Jordan's children were placed under the care of her sister Hester, who moved with them to a house in Brompton. By a settlement dated 4 November 1791, Jordan transferred all her savings to Ford and Hester for the maintenance and education of the children; in addition, she allowed them an annual payment and granted Hester an allowance for her services.[20][21]
Relationship with William IV
Pretty, witty and intelligent, Jordan soon came to the attention of wealthy men. She became the mistress of William, Duke of Clarence, later King William IV, in 1791, living with him at Bushy House,[22] and seemed to have not bothered herself with politics or the political intrigues that often went on behind the scenes in royal courts. Together they had at least ten illegitimate children, all of whom took the surname FitzClarence:
George FitzClarence (29 January 1794 – 20 March 1842), created Earl of Munster in 1831.
Henry Edward FitzClarence (27 March 1795 – September 1817). No issue.
Sophia FitzClarence (August 1796 – 10 April 1837), married Philip Sidney, 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley.
Mary FitzClarence (19 December 1798 – 13 July 1864), married General Charles Richard Fox. No issue.
Lieutenant General Lord Frederick FitzClarence GCH (9 December 1799 – 30 October 1854), officer in the British Army
Elizabeth FitzClarence (17 January 1801 – 16 January 1856), married William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll.
Rear-Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence GCH, ADC, RN (18 February 1802 – 17 May 1856). No issue.
Augusta FitzClarence (17 November 1803 – 8 December 1865) married, firstly, Hon. John Kennedy-Erskine, 5 July 1827, married secondly, Admiral Lord Frederick Gordon-Hallyburton.
Lord Augustus FitzClarence (1 March 1805 – 14 June 1854), rector at Mapledurham in Oxfordshire
Amelia FitzClarence (21 March 1807 – 2 July 1858), married Lucius Bentinck Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland.
Later Life
In 1811, when she and the Duke separated, she was given a yearly stipend by him and custody of their daughters while he retained custody of their sons. Part of her stipend included money for the care of the children with a stipulation stating that in order to continue receiving that money, and retain custody, Dorothea must not return to the stage. In 1814, when a son-in-law became heavily in debt, Dorothea returned to the stage to help pay off that debt. Once the Duke received word of this, he removed their remaining daughters from her care, and took back her yearly stipend. To avoid creditors, she fled to France in 1815 and died at Saint-Cloud, near Paris, in poverty just a year later.
Notable Descendants
Her notable descendants include:
- Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, also a granddaughter of Edward VII
- Her Highness Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk, also a granddaughter of Edward VII
Violet Jacob Scottish writer (1863–1946)
Brigadier General Charles FitzClarence, recipient of the Victoria Cross (8 May 1865 – 2 November 1914)- Sir Edward Bellingham, 5th Bt. Brig.-Gen., Senator of the Irish Free State (26 January 1879 – 19 May 1956)
Duff Cooper, 1st Viscount Norwich British diplomat, Cabinet member and author (22 February 1890 – 1 January 1954)
John Julius Norwich, 2nd Viscount Norwich, historian, author, television presenter (born 15 September 1929 – 1 June 2018)
Sir Rupert Hart-Davis British publisher, literary editor, and man of letters (28 August 1907 – 8 December 1999)
William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle 15th Governor-General of Australia, the last British Governor-General (23 May 1909 – 5 April 1991)
Fra Andrew Bertie (1929–2008) Prince and Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller.
Adam Hart-Davis British author, photographer, and broadcaster (born 4 July 1943)
Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll, a cross-bench member of the House of Lords (born 20 April 1948)
John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute (b. 1958), a.k.a. Johnny Dumfries, former racing driver.
David Cameron (b. 1966), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and former Leader of the Conservative Party.
Catherine McGuinness (b. 1934), former judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland and former member of Seanad Éireann
Bibliography
Mrs. Jordan's Profession: The Actress and the Prince, Claire Tomalin, 17 October 1994, Publisher: Viking, .mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
ISBN 0-670-84159-5
Ladies of the Bedchamber, Dennis Friedman, 2003, Publisher: Peter Owen,
ISBN 0-7206-1244-6
The Delectable Dora Jordan, In Otis Skinner (1928) Mad Folk of the Theatre Publisher: Ayer Publishing,
ISBN 978-0-8369-1851-9
References
^ www.chromadesign.co.uk, Blog Design and Build by Duncan Marshall and Conrad Barrett-Freeman at Chroma Design. "Exclusive - Museum swap-shop - Art History News - by Bendor Grosvenor". www.arthistorynews.com.
^ abcde Anthony J. Camp: Ancestry of Mrs Jordan [retrieved 4 December 2014].
^ 1918-2014,, Highfill, Philip H., Jr. (Philip Henry),. A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London, 1660-1800. Volume 10, M'Intosh to Nash. Burnim, Kalman A.,, Langhans, Edward A.,. Carbondale. ISBN 9780585030326. OCLC 44959689.
^ James, Boaden,. The Life of Mrs Jordan, Volume 2 : Including Original Private Correspondence, and Numerous Anecdotes of her Contemporaries. Cambridge. ISBN 9781139452915. OCLC 967377202.
^ ab Claire., Tomalin, (2012). Mrs Jordan's profession. London: Penguin. ISBN 9780241963296. OCLC 779244420.
^ abc Fiona., Ritchie,. Women and Shakespeare in the eighteenth century. New York, NY. ISBN 9781107046306. OCLC 855957476.
^ Piozzi, Hester Lynch. The Piozzi letters : correspondence of Hester Lynch Piozzi, 1784-1821 (formerly Mrs. Thrale). Bloom, Edward A. (Edward Alan), 1914-1994., Bloom, Lillian D. Newark: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0874131154. OCLC 17441329. ©1989-©2002
^ Molloy, J. Fitzgerald (April 1892). "Dorothy Jordan". The English Illustrated Magazine. 103: 567–571 – via ProQuest.
^ abc Perry, Gillian (2004-10-11). "Staging Gender and "Hairy Signs": Representing Dorothy Jordan's Curls". Eighteenth-Century Studies. 38 (1): 145–163. doi:10.1353/ecs.2004.0061. ISSN 1086-315X.
^ Denlinger, Elizabeth Campbell (2005), Before Victoria: extraordinary women of the British romantic era, Columbia University Press, ISBN 978-0-231-13630-3
^ Boaden, James (1831). The life of Mrs. Jordan: including original private correspondence, and numerous anecdotes of her contemporaries. London: Edward Bull, Holles Street.
^
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 508–509.
^ British Musical Biography: A Dictionary of Musical Artists, Authors, and Composers Born in Britain and Its Colonies, James Duff Brown and Stephen Samuel Stratton, Birmingham, England: S. S. Stratton, 1897, p. 225
^ Separated from her husband, she became an actress like her mother and died (probably from an overdose of laudanum) in America in 1821. Philip H. Highfill, Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans: A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and others Stage Personnel in London, vol. 8: Hough to Keyse, p. 259.; Wendy C. Nielsen: Women Warriors in Romantic Drama, Chapter IV, p. 112. [retrieved 4 December 2014]; Portrait of Mrs. Frances Bettesworth Alsop, ca. 1817 in: Library of University of Illinois at Urbania-Champaign. [retrieved 5 December 2014].
^ "Information on Bland, Dorothea".
^ Leodis, Discovering Leeds: The Theatre Retrieved 17 December 2013
^ Philip H. Highfill, Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans: A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and others Stage Personnel in London, vol. 8: Hough to Keyse, p. 259. [retrieved 4 December 2014].
^ According to Anthony Camp, she was a mistress of the Duke of Clarence for some time after her marriage. Anthony J. Camp: Royal Mistresses and Bastards, No. 15-24 [retrieved 5 December 2014].
^ pg. 90 & 91, Ladies of the Bedchamber, Dennis Friedman
^ The Encyclopedia of Romantic Literature, p. 693. [retrieved 4 December 2014].
^ Philip H. Highfill, Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans: A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and others Stage Personnel in London, vol. 8: Hough to Keyse, p. 253. [retrieved 4 December 2014].
^ Google Books The Story of Dorothy Jordan Armstrong, Clare & Jerrold, Bridgman. Ayer Publishing, 1969.
ISBN 0-405-08672-5,
ISBN 978-0-405-08672-4
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911).
External link
Media related to Dorothea Jordan at Wikimedia Commons
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