Charles Jordan (1838 â 5 October 1912) was an Irish-born New Zealand politician and Anglican clergyman. He was mayor of Tauranga five times (1885âÂÂ1886, 1900âÂÂ1905, 1907âÂÂ1908, 1909âÂÂ1910 and 1911âÂÂ1912).
Rev Canon Charles Jordan was born in Ventry, near Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland. Charles Jordan was the son of James Jordan and Eliza Jordan (nee O'Connor) and husband of Eleanor Anne Jordan (nee Armstrong), and with her he became the father of James Jordan, Mary Ann Pittar, Joseph Armstrong Jordan, Marguerite Martina Clemson, Eleanor Grace Norris and William Jordan. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1866.
He was ordained in County Galway on 14 July 1867 in St. Mary's Cathedral, Tuam, County Galway by Rev. Dr. Bernard for the curacy of Bangor, in the parish of Kilcomon, Erris. Rev. Jordan continued in Church work in Ireland till 1872, and left on September 11th of that year for Tauranga, being appointed thereto by the commissaries of the former Bishop of Waiapu, Rev. Dr. William Williams. He arrived from Ireland at the end of 1872 to be the first vicar of Holy Trinity Church, a position he kept for 39 years.
Up until roughly six weeks ago, Rev. Canon Jordan seemed to be in his typical state of health. However, on the eleventh ultimo, he became ill after getting a chill while returning from the Bay of Plenty Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's most recent meeting in WhakatÃÂne. His condition deteriorated to the point where a number of his relatives, who live across the Dominion, were called to his bedside.
According to his obituary, Jordan had "an honorable record of excellent service, and it may be said of him that he sacrificed his personal interests for the good of the people." He died on October 5, 1912.