GORDON, John 4th of Cluny (of the 3rd House), MP for Weymouth & Melcombe Regis, Colonel ^{1 2}

   User ID: P500.

  General Notes:

"He (John Gordon) had embarked on a brief military career in 1800, travelled in Europe and the Levant, 1802-4, apparently in the company of the 4th earl of Aberdeen, and returned to England with Nelson's remains in 1805. He largely occupied himself with the management of his estates and, displaying a strongly litigious streak, was involved in three cases over them between 1815 and 1818."

"In the House, where he was usually distinguished from other Gordons by the title 'Colonel', he appears to have been an almost silent supporter of the Liverpool, Canning and Wellington administrations."

"An action for debt having been brought against him in late 1830 by his former agent James John Fraser, the summons to the court of session stated that Gordon

has, for many years, been much concerned in political adventures, the main object of which was to raise him to the peerage; for which distinction he has constantly, but unsuccessfully, struggled, in a great variety of ways, and more particularly by attempting to get himself returned as a Member of Parliament to represent a Scotch county, he having become exceedingly unpopular in the borough of Weymouth.

He held property in several counties and was said to have been especially hopeful of succeeding his friend Lord Fife to the representation of Banffshire in 1827."

from historyofparliamentonline




"(John) Gordon never married, but he had four natural children, all of whom, except one, predeceased him. I understand that they were all by the same mother, and that she was his housekeeper, subsequently marrying a Nairnshire farmer. They were : -

1. John Gordon, V. of Cluny.

2. Charles Gordon, died Dec. 12, 1857 (Gordon Mausoleum). The 'Banffshire Journal' (July 1, 1858) says he died at Kinsteary, 'aged about 36.'

3. Susan Gordon, 'last surviving daughter,' died at Braid Hermitage, August 6, 1856 ('Aberdeen Journal').

4. Mary Steel Gordon, died July 13, 1833 (Gordon Mausoleum)."

from The Gordons of Cluny ^{1 2}