Ambrose L. Jordan

Ambrose Latting Jordan, (5 May 1789 – 16 July 1865) nicknamed Aquafortis, an obsolete word for nitric acid, was an American lawyer, newspaper editor, and politician. He defended tenant farmers in upstate New York who withheld rents in protest of their poverty and helped to set a precedent for personal land ownership in the western United States.

Early life Jordan was born on 5 May 1789, in southwest Hillsdale in Columbia County, New York. He was the son of William Jordan (1751–1833) and Ruth (née Ferris) Jordan (1755–1821).

Jordan was admitted to the bar in 1812, and practiced law in Cooperstown, New York.

Career From 1815 to 1818, he was Surrogate of Otsego County, and from 1818 to 1820, he served as the District Attorney of Otsego County. In 1820, he moved to Hudson, New York, and took over the Columbia Republican newspaper. From 1821 to 1827, he was Recorder of the City of Hudson.

In February 1837, Jordan was the Whig candidate for U.S. Senator from New York, but was defeated by the incumbent Silas Wright, Jr.

Later life In 1846, Jordan was a member of the New York State Constitutional Convention, and in 1847, as the candidate of the Whigs and Anti-Renters, he was the first New York State Attorney General elected by popular ballot under the provisions of the new Constitution, succeeding his antagonist of the Anti-Renters' trials. He served from January 1, 1848, to December 31, 1849. Afterwards he resumed his private practice.

Personal life In 1811, Jordan was married to Cornelia Caroline Philip (1796–1872), the daughter of Jacob H. Philip and Elbertie (née Fonda) Philip. Together, they were the parents of:

Caroline Jordan (1815–1874), who married Edward Cabot Clark, a co-founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.

Jordan died on 16 July 1865, in New York City and was buried at the cemetery in Hudson, New York.

Descendants Through his daughter Caroline, he was the maternal grandfather of Alfred Corning Clark and the great-grandfather of: Edward Severin Clark, F. Ambrose Clark, Robert Sterling Clark, Stephen Carlton Clark.