Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet

Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun (14 May 1580 – 1656) was a Scottish politician and courtier, known as the historian of the noble house of Sutherland.

Early life Born at Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Sutherland, on 14 May 1580, he was the fourth son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, by his second wife Jean Gordon, Countess of Bothwell (a daughter of George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly).

Career Gordon was appointed a gentleman of the privy chamber to James I in 1606, and was knighted. He won a prize in the tournament at the Barriers in January 1610.

On 16 July 1614 he received a grant of holdings in Ulster. In March 1614–15, having attended the king to Cambridge, he was created honorary M.A. On the death of his brother John, 12th or 13th Earl of Sutherland, in September of the same year, he became tutor at law of his nephew John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland.

In 1621, he returned to Sutherland, when he relieved the estates of the earl of a heavy burden of debt.

On 28 May 1625, then a gentleman of the privy chamber to Charles I, he was created premier baronet of Nova Scotia, with remainder to his heir male whatsoever; and he obtained a charter under the great seal granting to him sixteen thousand acres on the coast of Nova Scotia, which were erected into a barony. He assisted under agreement Sir William Alexander of Menstrie in the plantation of a colony in Nova Scotia. A favourite of King Charles, he was employed as confidential messenger to Henrietta Maria. and received the lordships of Glenluce in Scotland and of Longorme in France. He had issue five sons and four daughters, including:

Sir Ludovick Gordon (1614–1685), who married Elizabeth Farquhar, daughter and coheiress of Sir Robert Farquhar of Mounie.

Will and estate Gordon's bequests included; to his eldest son Ludovick, his insignia as a knight baronet; to Ludovick's son Robert Gordon, a cup, his whalebone chessmen, and a suite of furniture of a green bed and couch worked in tent stitch made by his mother-in-law Genevieve Petau; to his grandson Robert Barclay his silver coins; his wife Louise Gordon should leave the diamond jewel with the portrait of King James, that had belonged to her mother (Geneviève Petau de Maulette) who taught French to Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, to Ludovick and his son; his wife and Ludovick should continue building the church of Drenie, especially because they had demolished the church of Kinneddor.