Ambrose L. Jordan

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Ambrose Latting Jordan (May 5, 1789 Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York - July 16, 1865 New York City) was an American lawyer and politician.

Jordan was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Cooperstown, New York between 1812 and 1820, and was at times Surrogate and District Attorney of Otsego County, New York. In 1821, after his removal to Hudson, New York, he was appointed City Recorder there. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1825, and a member of the New York State Senate from 1826 to 1829 when he resigned his seat.

In 1846, Jordan was a member of the New York State Constitutional Convention, and in 1847 he was the first New York State Attorney General elected by popular ballot under the provisions of the new Constitution, succeeding his antagonist of the Anti-Renters' trials. He served from January 1, 1848 to December 31, 1849. Afterwards he resumed his private practice.

Jordan was buried at the cemetery in Hudson, New York.

[edit] Anti-Rent War trial

In 1845, Jordan was the leading counsel for the defense of some leaders of the Anti-Rent War at their trial for riot, conspiracy and robbery. John Van Buren, the state attorney general, personally conducted the accusation. At the first trial the jury disagreed. At the re-trial, in September 1845, the two leading counsels started a fist-fight in open court, and were both sentenced by the presiding judge, Justice John W. Edmonds, to "solitary confinement in the county jail for 24 hours." Governor Silas Wright refused to accept Van Buren's resignation, and both counsels continued with the case after their release from jail. The defendant, Smith A. Boughton ("Big Thunder"), was sentenced to life imprisonment. At the next state election Governor Wright was defeated by John Young who had the support of the Anti-Renters, and Young pardoned Jordan's client who was released from jail.

[edit] Sources

[1] Bio
[2] Obit in NYT, July 19, 1865
[3] History of Columbia County, New York by Captain Franklin Ellis (Everts & Ensign, Philadelphia PA, 1878)
[4] List of New York Attorneys General, at Office of the NYSAG