Alexander Gurdon Abell

Alexander Gurdon Abell, often mistakenly misspelled Gordon, (June 29, 1818 – December 28, 1890) was an American diplomat, writer, and freemason.

Biography Abell was born on June 29, 1818, to Gurdon and Anna Abell in New York City. Despite being born elsewhere, his parents would raise him in their town of residence, Franklin, Connecticut. In 1820 the family would move to Augusta, Georgia where his father would become a cotton dealer and slaveholder; following the move Abell would find himself in New Haven in 1826 when he was sent there for schooling.

Abell would be rewarded by the president with a political appointment for his work on the biography and delivering dispatches to Sam Houston in the early 1840s. Originally he was nominated to serve as Consul in Marseilles, but the Senate rejected him; despite draw backs President Tyler made sure to reward Abell. He would serve for less than ten months, leaving in 1846. During this period he would act as editor of the Sandwich Island News. He also served as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of California from 1855 to 1890, and was also a grand commander of the California Knights Templar for eight years. He would also serve as a California State Senator.

He died in San Francisco, California at his residence, on December 28, 1890.