George Gordon, 3rd Earl Of Aberdeen

George Gordon, 3rd Earl of Aberdeen (19 June 1722 – 13 August 1801), was a Scottish peer and member of the House of Lords. He was styled Lord Haddo until 1745. He served as a Scottish representative peer in the House of Lords during two periods: from 1747 to 1761 and from 1774 to 1790. He was known for opposing William Pitt the Younger's Regency Bill.

Family background:

He was the son of William Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen, and Lady Susan Murray, who was the daughter of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl.

Marriage and children:

In 1759, Lord Aberdeen married Catherine Elizabeth Hanson, who was born circa 1730 and died in March 1817 at Rudding Park House. She was the daughter of Oswald Hanson. Recent sources indicate she was the cook at the Stafford Arms in Wakefield and was reputed to be a notably handsome woman of approximately 29 years old at the time of marriage. It has been reported that she blackmailed Lord Aberdeen into marriage with a loaded pistol after he had seduced her.

The marriage produced six children:

- Lady Catherine Gordon (died 30 September 1784)

- Lady Anne Gordon, who married Edward Place on 5 July 1787 and took his last name

- Lady Susan Gordon (died 26 July 1795)

- Lady Mary Gordon (died August 1852)

- George Gordon, Lord Haddo (28 January 1764 – 2 October 1791), who died from a fall from his horse at Gight Castle and was the father of Prime Minister George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, along with two other sons and three daughters

- Hon. William Gordon (circa 1765 – 19 March 1845), who built Rudding Park House between 1805 and 1824

Additional children:

Lord Aberdeen also fathered children by at least three mistresses, including:

- John Gordon, born at Cairnbulg Castle near Fraserburgh, fathered with his London housekeeper, Mrs. Forest

- Charles Gordon, born at Wiscombe Park in Devon, from an unknown woman, Penelope Dering of Sussex, and another unnamed son and daughter born at Ellon Castle

Personality and reputation:

He was sometimes called the "Wicked Earl" due to his alleged exploitation of his tenants through 19-year leases, as well as for his private life.

Death:

Lord Aberdeen died in August 1801 at the age of 79. His wife, the Countess of Aberdeen, died at Rudding Park in March 1817.