Frederick Richard Jordan

Who was Frederick Richard Jordan?

Sir Frederick Richard Jordan KCMG was an Australian barrister, the 9th Chief Justice of New South Wales and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales.

The late Supreme Court Justice Roddy Meagher QC describes Jordan as being one of New South Wales's foremost Equity Judges. He is described by biographer John Bennett as a "man of bookish tastes, … respected rather than liked by most of his colleagues who, while recognizing his brilliance as a lawyer, found him cold as a person. He, in turn, despised the narrowness of many of his fellows, writing that 'those who are constrained to think for the purposes of their professions refrain in general from thinking about anything else'. He delighted to relax in his vast library, indulging his voracious appetite for Romance languages, and committing to memory the entire contents of many literary works". According to Bennett, Jordan was a daunting figure in court, and his manner was not just cold but chilling. His manner was bleak and he had no time for service out the strict call of duty.