John Tenny Jordan (January 1, 1832 – March 3, 1886) was an American politician who served as the

Mayor of Seattle The Mayor of Seattle is the head of the executive branch of the city government of Seattle, Washington. The mayor is authorized by the city charter to enforce laws enacted by the Seattle City Council, as well as direct subordinate officers in ci ...

from 1871 to 1872 and again in 1873. Jordan arrived in Seattle around 1860 to work as a

stonemason Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...

and plasterer, playing a key role in building the first campus of the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...

in modern Downtown Seattle. He was elected as the city's first police

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

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 The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded in Washington, D.C., on . The Knights of Pythias is the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded ...

. He was also a grand master of the Seattle

Freemasons Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

lodge and a regent of the University of Washington. Jordan died of a heart attack on March 3, 1886.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, John T. 1832 births 1886 deaths Mayors of Seattle