diff --git a/src/scripts/ngTable.directive.js b/src/scripts/ngTable.directive.js
index fedd8638..e78da372 100644
--- a/src/scripts/ngTable.directive.js
+++ b/src/scripts/ngTable.directive.js
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@
                             titleAlt: parsedAttribute('title-alt'),
                             headerTitle: parsedAttribute('header-title'),
                             sortable: parsedAttribute('sortable'),
+                            defaultSort: parsedAttribute('defaultSort'),
                             'class': parsedAttribute('header-class'),
                             filter: parsedAttribute('filter'),
                             groupable: parsedAttribute('groupable'),
diff --git a/src/scripts/ngTableColumn.js b/src/scripts/ngTableColumn.js
index ce40c40a..b1101fb5 100644
--- a/src/scripts/ngTableColumn.js
+++ b/src/scripts/ngTableColumn.js
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@
                 headerTemplateURL: createGetterSetter(false),
                 headerTitle: createGetterSetter(''),
                 sortable: createGetterSetter(false),
+                defaultSort: createGetterSetter(''),
                 show: createGetterSetter(true),
                 title: createGetterSetter(''),
                 titleAlt: createGetterSetter('')
diff --git a/src/scripts/ngTableSorterRowController.js b/src/scripts/ngTableSorterRowController.js
index c1592232..8dcb53ff 100644
--- a/src/scripts/ngTableSorterRowController.js
+++ b/src/scripts/ngTableSorterRowController.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
             if (!parsedSortable) {
                 return;
             }
-            var defaultSort = $scope.params.settings().defaultSort;
+            var defaultSort = ($column.defaultSort && $column.defaultSort()) || $scope.params.settings().defaultSort;
             var inverseSort = (defaultSort === 'asc' ? 'desc' : 'asc');
             var sorting = $scope.params.sorting() && $scope.params.sorting()[parsedSortable] && ($scope.params.sorting()[parsedSortable] === defaultSort);
             var sortingParams = (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey) ? $scope.params.sorting() : {};