James Jordan (cricketer)
James Jordan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Chatham, Kent, England |
| Died | September 10, 1866 (aged 73) Chatham, Kent, England |
| Occupation(s) | Cricketer, ropemaker, publican |
| Years active | 1822–1824 (first-class cricket) |
| Known for | First-class cricketer for Kent and Players teams |
James Jordan (21 June 1793 – 10 September 1866) was an English cricketer active in first-class matches between 1822 and 1824.
Originating from Chatham, Kent, Jordan was employed as a ropemaker at Chatham Dockyard and also operated as a publican, overseeing The Black Lion located on the Chatham Lines. His cricketing career included playing for Gillingham Cricket Club from at least 1816, and that same year he featured in a combined East Kent and Sussex team facing West Kent and Surrey. Although detailed records are scarce, contemporary accounts regarded him as a highly productive batsman during this era.
Renowned for his aggressive batting style and agility, Jordan made his first-class debut representing the Players in the 1822 Gentlemen v Players fixture at Lord's, where he led the scoring with innings of 38 and 33. Subsequently, he appeared for a Kent XI against the MCC at Lord's, once again finishing as top scorer with 86 runs. His appearances that year also included notable performances such as a score of 56 for Kent versus MCC and an innings of 94 for an England XI at Lord's.
In 1823, Jordan achieved a century for Gillingham in a minor match against Leeds, followed by a score of 109 for Kent against MCC at Chislehurst—recognized as the earliest recorded century by a Kent side in first-class cricket. This match marked his last representation for a Kent county team. Nevertheless, he continued to participate in matches for England XI and the Players through the following year.
The reasons behind Jordan's departure from first-class cricket after 1824 remain uncertain. Arthur Haygarth suggested illness might have been a factor, though Jordan took part in four contests between 1826 and 1828 representing the Players of Kent against the Gentlemen of Kent. By 1853, Haygarth described him as "a hearty, active man" who remained involved in activities such as shooting and walking. The Sporting Magazine proposed that his forceful batting approach could have contributed to a decline in performance, while others speculated that his personality may have estranged influential aristocratic backers responsible for team selection. Despite stepping back from higher levels, he stayed engaged with club cricket at Gillingham until at least 1833.
Jordan married Elizabeth Featherstone in 1822 at Frindsbury. Although he received a pension from the dockyard, census records from 1861 indicate he continued working in the Chatham ropery. He passed away in Chatham in 1866 at the age of 73.