Jeremiah Jordan
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Jordan J.P.
(1830 – 21 December 1911) was an Irish
nationalist
politician from County Fermanagh
. He was a Member of Parliament
(MP) from 1885 to 1892, and from 1893 to 1910, taking his seat in the House of Commons
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
.
in Enniskillen
. He is buried in Aghavea Church of Ireland
churchyard, situated about 3 miles outside the village of Maguiresbridge
in County Fermanagh
.
A merchant by profession, he became a member of the Fermanagh Urban Council
, the Enniskillen Board of Guardians, the Fermanagh C.C. and of the Joint Committee of the Asylum for Tyrone
and Fermanagh
.
He was connected with Temperance
and kindred movements for many years. He was a member of the Tenant’s Association
, the Land League, the Irish National League and the United Irish League
(UIL), successively.
The local branch of the UIL in Enniskillen which was largely dominated by working-class members was disaffiliated after it criticised merchants who dominated nationalist politics in the town – notably Jeremiah Jordan and his successor, Patrick Crumley – for decorating shops with Union Jacks and subscribing to a military monument.
member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
, Jordan was elected at the 1885 general election
as MP for the Western division of County Clare
. His only opponent was a Conservative
, who won less than 4% of the votes. He was returned unopposed in 1886
, and when the Irish Party split in 1891 over the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell
, Jordan sided with the majority Anti-Parnellite faction. At the 1892 general election
he did not stand again in West Clare (where the Parnellite candidate won a large majority), but in North Fermanagh
, where he lost the seat to a Unionist
candidate.
However, the 1892 election in South Meath
was voided after an electoral petition, and at the resulting by-election
on 17 February 1893, Jordan won the seat in a close contest with the Parnellite candidate.
At the next election, in July 1895
, Jordan narrowly lost the South Meath seat to Parnell's older brother, John Howard Parnell
. However, he had also stood in South Fermanagh
, where he was elected with a comfortable majority. from 1895 to 1910. That constituency returned Jordan to Westminster
in 1900
, 1906
and January 1910. By then he was 80 years old, and did not contest the December 1910 general election. He died a year later, aged 81.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(1830 – 21 December 1911) was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
politician from County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
. He was a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) from 1885 to 1892, and from 1893 to 1910, taking his seat in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
.
Early life
Jordan was born in Tattinbar, eldest son of Samuel Jordan, farmer, and was educated at the Mulnlburtlin National Primary School, as well as at the Portora Royal SchoolPortora Royal School
Portora Royal School for boys, and some 6th form girls, located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is one of a number of 'free schools' founded by Royal Charter in 1608, by James I...
in Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. He is buried in Aghavea Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
churchyard, situated about 3 miles outside the village of Maguiresbridge
Maguiresbridge
Maguiresbridge is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The village is named after the bridge over the Colebrooke River, first built by the local Maguire family about 1760. The village is 8 miles from Enniskillen and 3 miles from Lisnaskea....
in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
.
A merchant by profession, he became a member of the Fermanagh Urban Council
Fermanagh District Council
Fermanagh District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. The borders of the district are very similar to those of the traditional County Fermanagh, containing all of that county plus a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore Road and Kilskeery Road areas. Council headquarters are...
, the Enniskillen Board of Guardians, the Fermanagh C.C. and of the Joint Committee of the Asylum for Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
and Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
.
He was connected with Temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
and kindred movements for many years. He was a member of the Tenant’s Association
Tenant Right League
The Tenant Right League, established in 1850, was an organisation which aimed to secure reforms in the Irish land system. Formed by Charles Gavan Duffy and Frederick Lucas , it united for a time Protestant and Catholic tenants, Duffy calling his movement The League of North and South.The political...
, the Land League, the Irish National League and the United Irish League
United Irish League
The United Irish League was a nationalist political party in Ireland, launched 23 January 1898 with the motto "The Land for the People" . Its objective to be achieved through agrarian agitation and land reform, compelling larger grazier farmers to surrender their lands for redistribution amongst...
(UIL), successively.
The local branch of the UIL in Enniskillen which was largely dominated by working-class members was disaffiliated after it criticised merchants who dominated nationalist politics in the town – notably Jeremiah Jordan and his successor, Patrick Crumley – for decorating shops with Union Jacks and subscribing to a military monument.
Political career
A Protestant NationalistProtestant Nationalist
Irish nationalism has been chiefly associated with Roman Catholics. However, historically this is not an entirely accurate picture. Protestant nationalists were also influential supporters of the political independence the island of Ireland from the island of Great Britain and leaders of national...
member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
, Jordan was elected at the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
as MP for the Western division of County Clare
West Clare (UK Parliament constituency)
West Clare was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 the area was part of the Clare constituency. From 1922 it was not represented in the UK Parliament....
. His only opponent was a Conservative
Irish Conservative Party
The Irish Conservative Party, often called the Irish Tories, was one of the dominant Irish political parties in Ireland in the 19th century...
, who won less than 4% of the votes. He was returned unopposed in 1886
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, and when the Irish Party split in 1891 over the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
, Jordan sided with the majority Anti-Parnellite faction. At the 1892 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
he did not stand again in West Clare (where the Parnellite candidate won a large majority), but in North Fermanagh
North Fermanagh (UK Parliament constituency)
North Fermanagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the northern part of County Fermanagh.It returned one Member of Parliament 1885–1922....
, where he lost the seat to a Unionist
Irish Unionist Party
The Irish Unionist Alliance was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in 1891 to oppose plans for Gladstonian and Parnellite Home Rule for Ireland. The party was led for much of its life by Colonel Edward James Saunderson and later by the William St John Brodrick, Earl of Midleton...
candidate.
However, the 1892 election in South Meath
South Meath (UK Parliament constituency)
South Meath was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the 1885 general election the area was part of the Meath . From 1922 it was not represented in the UK Parliament....
was voided after an electoral petition, and at the resulting by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on 17 February 1893, Jordan won the seat in a close contest with the Parnellite candidate.
At the next election, in July 1895
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
, Jordan narrowly lost the South Meath seat to Parnell's older brother, John Howard Parnell
John Howard Parnell
John Howard Parnell was an older brother of the Irish Nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell and after his brother’s death was himself a Parnellite Nationalist Member of Parliament, for South Meath from 1895 to 1900...
. However, he had also stood in South Fermanagh
South Fermanagh (UK Parliament constituency)
South Fermanagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the southern part of County Fermanagh.It returned one Member of Parliament 1885–1922....
, where he was elected with a comfortable majority. from 1895 to 1910. That constituency returned Jordan to Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
in 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, 1906
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
and January 1910. By then he was 80 years old, and did not contest the December 1910 general election. He died a year later, aged 81.