David Starr Jordan was born in Gainesville, New York on January 19, 1851 to Hiram J. and Huldah Lake (Hawley) Jordan. After home schooling and attendance at area schools, Jordan won the local scholarship to the newly founded Cornell University. By his junior year in Ithaca, Jordan was named instructor in Botany. Upon completion of his thesis, "Wild Flowers of Wyoming County" in 1872, Cornell awarded Jordan both his BS and MS degrees.

Following his years at Cornell, Jordan held several short-term teaching posts before coming to Indiana in 1874 as an instructor at Indianapolis High School. He joined the Butler University faculty in 1875, and in 1879, he left Butler for Indiana University, where he was a professor of natural history. In a short time, the popular professor received recognition as an outstanding educator and scientist. In 1885, Jordan was named the 7th President of the University. He was the youngest person as well as the first non-clergyman to hold that position. Dr. Jordan served as Indiana University President until 1891. During his tenure, Jordan initiated or promoted several important changes at IU. Among the most important changes were 1) Transformation of the faculty. During Jordan's tenure, the number of IU faculty members increased from 18 to 29. Many of these new faculty represented the type of scholar/teacher that Jordan felt was needed in the modern university; 2) Allowing students more freedom in selecting a major and in designing their own curriculum; and 3) Increasing the number of departments and courses. In 1891, Senator and Mrs. Leland Stanford asked Jordan to head a new university named for their deceased son. He accepted the position and persuaded 6 IU professors and 37 students to accompany him to Stanford. Jordan held the post of President at Stanford until 1913, when he moved to the position of Chancellor of Stanford. In 1916, he retired and assumed the position of Chancellor Emeritus until his death in 1931.

In addition to his presidential roles, Jordan was an ichthyologist, writer, peace activist, and eugenicist. He authored approximately 645 books and articles and also wrote numerous essays and poems. Jordan was most known for his work in ichthyology, the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish. He traveled throughout the United States and in Europe, Cuba, and Canada collecting and studying fish. Jordan is credited with contributing to the naming of 1,085 genera and over 2,500 species of fishes. He was also known as a peace activist and leader of the peace movement during his lifetime. Additionally, Jordan was a significant leader in the U.S. eugenics movement including serving as chair of the first U.S. eugenics organization and being a founding member and trustee of the Human Betterment Foundation which was devoted to the promotion of compulsory sterilization legislation. He published several books and articles promoting eugenics.

Jordan was first married to Susan Bowen from 1875 until her death in 1885. The couple had three children: Edith, Harold, and Thora. In 1887, Jordan married Jessie Knight. They had three children: Knight, Barbara, and Eric. David Starr Jordan died on September 19, 1931.