William Gordon

William Gordon was born on 18 December 1784. He was a Scottish naval officer and politician affiliated with the Tory party. He died on 3 February 1858.

Family Background:

William Gordon was the second son of George Gordon, Lord Haddo. His grandfather was George Gordon, the 3rd Earl of Aberdeen. His mother was Charlotte Baird, daughter of William Baird. William Gordon had notable siblings, including George Hamilton-Gordon, the 4th Earl of Aberdeen, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Sir Robert Gordon.

Naval Career:

William Gordon joined the Royal Navy in 1797. Over his naval career, he held several significant positions. He served as Fourth Naval Lord from 1841 to 1846, a role within the Board of Admiralty responsible for various administrative and logistical matters. Later, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at The Nore, a major Royal Navy command area, serving from 1854 to 1857.

Political Career:

In September 1820, William Gordon was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberdeenshire during a by-election. He served as an MP for nearly 34 years, maintaining his seat until August 1854. At that time, he resigned from Parliament by accepting the traditional office of the Chiltern Hundreds, a procedural mechanism used to relinquish a parliamentary seat.

Honors and Legacy:

The geographical feature Cape Gordon on Vega Island in the Antarctic region has been named in his honor, reflecting his contributions and recognition.

References and External Links:

William Gordon’s parliamentary contributions from 1803 to 2005 can be researched through Hansard records.