William George Jordan

Born in New York City on March 6, 1864, William George Jordan became an American editor, lecturer, and essayist whose work reached a wide audience in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He studied at the City College of New York and entered publishing early, building a career in magazines before becoming known for his reflective prose.

Jordan worked as an editor for publications including Book Chat, Current Literature, Ladies' Home Journal, and The Saturday Evening Post. Alongside that editorial work, he developed a reputation as a lecturer and as a writer of thoughtful, accessible essays.

He is especially remembered for books such as The Majesty of Calmness and The Kingship of Self-Control, which helped shape early self-improvement writing in America. Jordan died on April 20, 1928, but his essays still appeal to readers looking for quiet, steady wisdom rather than quick fixes.