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Dorothea Jordan

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Actress

The Resume

    (November 21, 1761-July 5, 1816)
    Born in County Waterford, Ireland
    Birth name was Dorothea Bland
    Notable roles included Calista in ‘The Fair Penitent,’ Lady Teazle in ‘School for Scandal,’ Viola in ‘Twelfth Night,’ Ophelia in ‘Hamlet’ and Emilia in ‘Othello’
    Mistress of the future King William IV when he was the Duke of Clarence

Why she might be annoying:

    She frequently billed herself as ‘Mrs. Jordan,’ despite never being married.
    Before becoming a royal mistress, she had children out of wedlock with theater manager Richard Daly and magistrate Sir Richard Ford.
    She received a generous yearly pension of £4,400 from William on the condition that she not return to the stage.
    She resumed acting (1814), whereupon William cut off her stipend and reclaimed custody of their children.
    She died in debt in exile in France.

Why she might not be annoying:

    When she was thirteen, he father abandoned the family; although he sent financial support, it was with the condition that his children not use his last name.
    She became an actress in her teens to help support her siblings.
    She was considered the best comedic actress of her day.
    She wrote a popular folksong, ‘The Bluebells of Scotland.’
    William dumped her after twenty years when the royal family pressured him into getting married and producing some legitimate heirs.
    She wound up in debt as a result of her oldest daughter and her son-in-law running up bills in her name.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 33.33% Annoying