Bazil Gordon

Bazil Gordon (1768 – 1847) emigrated from Scotland to America, settling in Falmouth, Virginia in 1786 where he opened a small store. Gordon grew his business, exporting large amounts of tobacco from plantations along the Rappahannock River to England. He is believed to be America's first millionaire.

Life In 1768, Bazil Gordon was born at Lochdougan, Kelton Parish, Scotland. He was the born to Samuel Gordon and Nicholas Brown, the daughter to John Brown; he was Samuel's youngest son. In circa 1783, Gordon, along with two of his brothers: Samuel and Alexander; his nephew (also called Samuel) immigrated to the "New World," America. Gordon and his kinsmen settled in Falmouth, Virginia where they opened a merchant's shop; the main commodity they traded was tobacco. This enterprise quickly became a success.

He married Anna Campbell Knox, daughter of William Knox and Susannah Stuart Fitzhugh.