William Gordon

Who was William Gordon?

General William Gordon, of Fyvie, was a British general and courtier. He was several times returned to Parliament by the interest of the Duke of Marlborough, and precipitated a family quarrel with his nephew, the Duke of Gordon, by commandeering a regiment that the latter was raising.

He was the son of William Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen and his third wife Lady Anne Gordon. Educated at Edinburgh University, he was commissioned a cornet in the 11th Regiment of Dragoons in 1756. On 11 August 1759, he was appointed to a captaincy in the newly raised 16th Regiment of Dragoons. Appointed a lieutenant-colonel in the 105th Regiment of Foot on 11 October 1762, he went on half-pay when that regiment was disbanded in 1763.

On his grand tour of Europe, he passed through Rome, where he was painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1765–66, wearing the uniform of the 105th but with his tartan arranged like a toga.

In 1767, Gordon was returned as Member of Parliament for Woodstock, through the influence of his friend the Duke of Marlborough. He was re-elected in 1768; in 1774, Marlborough put him in for Heytesbury instead. In Parliament, Gordon supported the Government, although his attendance was irregular. In 1775, Marlborough obtained for him an appointment as Groom of the Bedchamber to King George III, whom he served until 1812; Gordon was returned again for Heytesbury at the ensuing by-election.