About William Gordon
William Gordon was a British politician.
Sir William Gordon, 1st Baronet (died 1742) was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1708 and 1742.
Gordon was the eldest son of Sir Adam Gordon of Dalpholly, Sutherland and his wife Anne Urquhart, daughter of Alexander Urquhart of Newhall, Ross. He succeeded his father in 1700, and by 1702 had acquired the estate of Inverbreakie, on the Cromarty Firth, which was renamed Invergordon. He was created baronet on 3 February 1704. He married firstly a daughter of Sir William Henderson, 2nd, Baronet of Fordel, Dalgety, Fife, but appears to have had no children by her. He married secondly Isabel Hamilton, daughter of Sir John Hamilton of Halcraig, Lanarkshire on 19 March 1704.
Gordon was burgess of Glasgow in 1704 and burgess of Edinburgh in 1708. At the 1708 general election he was returned as Member of Parliament for Sutherland. He was re-elected in 1710. However, by 1713, his servants had beaten and robbed a merchant who had called at his house to collect a debt and he was faced with a legal action. He also became involved in allegations of corruption against his brother who was a customs collector. At the 1713 general election, the Sutherland family who controlled the seat put forward an alternative candidate and Gordon had to stand aside. However his opponent decided to sit at Peeblesshire, and Gordon was returned at a by-election on 7 May 1714.
Gordon's wife, Isabel died in 1740, and Gordon himself at Chelsea on 9 June 1742. He had four sons and five daughters. He was succeeded, in the estate, baronetcy (to 1783) and parliamentary seat (until 1761), by his eldest son, John (1707-1783).
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Gordon?
British Member of Parliament (died 1742)
When did William Gordon die?
William Gordon died on 9 June 1742.
What was William Gordon's occupation?
William Gordon was a politician.
What nationality was William Gordon?
William Gordon was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Sir William Gordon, 1st Baronet
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Gordon. https://biography.guide/william-gordon-politician/
MLA: "William Gordon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-gordon-politician/.
Chicago: "William Gordon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-gordon-politician/.
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