ˈɔːɹdɹənˌɔːks wʌz bˈɔːɹn æt nˈænts, bɹˈɪtəni, fɹˈæns tʊ ɐ fɹˈɛntʃ mˈɜːtʃənt skˈɪpɚ, dʒˈɑːn ˈɔːɹdɹənˌɔːks sˈiːnjɚ ænd ɐn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ mˈʌðɚ, dʒoʊˈænə hˈæmənd fɹʌmðə sˈɪɾi ʌv hˈʌl, ˈɪŋɡlənd.
Ordronaux was born at Nantes, Brittany, France to a French merchant skipper, John Ordronaux (senior) and an English mother, Joanna Hammond from the city of Hull, England.