diff --git a/dev/jquery.jtable.core.js b/dev/jquery.jtable.core.js
index a859986b..77426513 100644
--- a/dev/jquery.jtable.core.js
+++ b/dev/jquery.jtable.core.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 (function ($) {
 
     var unloadingPage;
-    
+
     $(window).on('beforeunload', function () {
         unloadingPage = true;
     });
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
             this._createErrorDialogDiv();
             this._addNoDataRow();
 
-            this._cookieKeyPrefix = this._generateCookieKeyPrefix();            
+            this._cookieKeyPrefix = this._generateCookieKeyPrefix();
         },
 
         /* Normalizes some options for all fields (sets default values).
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@
         *************************************************************************/
         _createHeaderCellForField: function (fieldName, field) {
             field.width = field.width || '10%'; //default column width: 10%.
+            field.firstSort = field.firstSort 	|| 'ASC'; //default to ASC sorting columns unless firstSort: DESC
 
             var $headerTextSpan = $('<span />')
                 .addClass('jtable-column-header-text')
@@ -295,6 +296,7 @@
                 .addClass(field.listClass)
                 .css('width', field.width)
                 .data('fieldName', fieldName)
+                .data('firstSort', field.firstSort)
                 .append($headerContainerDiv);
 
             this._jqueryuiThemeAddClass($th, 'ui-state-default');
@@ -1170,7 +1172,7 @@
                     jqXHR.abort();
                     return;
                 }
-                
+
                 if (options.error) {
                     options.error(arguments);
                 }
diff --git a/dev/jquery.jtable.sorting.js b/dev/jquery.jtable.sorting.js
index b7e9fa57..1a51f616 100644
--- a/dev/jquery.jtable.sorting.js
+++ b/dev/jquery.jtable.sorting.js
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
         *************************************************************************/
         _makeColumnSortable: function ($columnHeader, fieldName) {
             var self = this;
-            
+
             $columnHeader
                 .addClass('jtable-column-header-sortable')
                 .click(function (e) {
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
                     if (!self.options.multiSorting || !e.ctrlKey) {
                         self._lastSorting = []; //clear previous sorting
                     }
-                    
+
                     self._sortTableByColumn($columnHeader);
                 });
 
@@ -146,20 +146,15 @@
                 }
             }
 
-            //Sort ASC or DESC according to current sorting state
-            if ($columnHeader.hasClass('jtable-column-header-sorted-asc')) {
-                $columnHeader.removeClass('jtable-column-header-sorted-asc').addClass('jtable-column-header-sorted-desc');
-                this._lastSorting.push({
-                    'fieldName': $columnHeader.data('fieldName'),
-                    sortOrder: 'DESC'
-                });
-            } else {
-                $columnHeader.removeClass('jtable-column-header-sorted-desc').addClass('jtable-column-header-sorted-asc');
-                this._lastSorting.push({
-                    'fieldName': $columnHeader.data('fieldName'),
-                    sortOrder: 'ASC'
-                });
-            }
+            //Sort ASC or DESC according to current firstSort state on the field
+			var sortTo = 'ASC';
+			if ($columnHeader.data('firstSort') == 'ASC') {
+				// DEFAULT TO ASC unless already ASC
+				sortTo = ($columnHeader.hasClass('jtable-column-header-sorted-asc')) ? 'DESC' : 'ASC';
+			} else {
+				// DEFAULT TO DESC unless already DESC
+				sortTo = ($columnHeader.hasClass('jtable-column-header-sorted-desc')) ? 'ASC' : 'DESC';
+			}
 
             //Load current page again
             this._reloadTable();