Dorothy Jordan
(1761-1816), Actress; mistress of William IVDorothy Jordan (Mrs Jordan) (Dorothea Phillips)
Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 32 portraits
The Irish Mrs Jordan made her theatrical debut in England and was quickly hailed as London's leading comic actress. In 1790 she became mistress to the Duke of Clarence, afterwards King William IV. Despite the high-society scandal of their relationship, the actress and the Duke lived together for twenty contented years in which she bore him ten illegitimate children. She continued to act, often supporting the profligate Duke from her impressive income. Their life together ended cruelly in 1811 with the advent of the Regency and William's search for an official bride.
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