Henry Jordan was born in Lincoln, England, the son of a Wesleyan Minister. He studied medicine in London before turning to dentistry. He arrived in Brisbane in 1856, and in 1857 married Sarah Elizabeth Hopkins, the daughter of Nathaniel Turner, a N.Z. missionary. He was a member of the first Board of Education in the colony, a visiting chaplain at Brisbane gaol, and a member of Parliament, representing Brisbane in the first session of the first Legislative Assembly. In 1861, he became the colony's commissioner and immigration agent in London and wrote a pamphlet on immigration to Queensland entitled "The future cotton-field of England". He represented East Moreton in the Legislative Assemby 1868-71, and established a sugar plantation at Tygum, in partnership with George Raff. In 1875, he became Registrar-General and in 1887-88 served as Minister for Lands and Works. His daughter Mary married David McConnel of Cressbrook station and became the first paid female union organiser and advocate for women's rights.
From the description of 27948 Henry Jordan Papers, 1860-1905. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 755780862
