About John Jordan
Lived 1832 – 1886 (aged 54). John Jordan was a politician.
John Tenny Jordan (January 1, 1832 – March 3, 1886) was an American politician who served as the Mayor of Seattle from 1871 to 1872 and again in 1873. Jordan arrived in Seattle around 1860 to work as a stonemason and plasterer, playing a key role in building the first campus of the University of Washington in modern Downtown Seattle. He was elected as the city's first police marshal in 1869 and served on the common council in 1870.
After his two stints as mayor, Jordan served as the grand chancellor of the Washington Territory grand lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He was also a grand master of the Seattle Freemasons lodge and a regent of the University of Washington. Jordan died of a heart attack on March 3, 1886.
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Important facts
People in John Jordan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Jordan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Jordan?
American politician (1832–1886); mayor of Seattle
When was John Jordan born?
John Jordan was born on 1 January 1832 in Raymond.
When did John Jordan die?
John Jordan died on 3 March 1886 in Seattle.
What was John Jordan's occupation?
John Jordan was a politician.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Jordan. https://biography.guide/john-jordan-politician-1832/
MLA: "John Jordan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-jordan-politician-1832/.
Chicago: "John Jordan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-jordan-politician-1832/.
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