Alexander Theodore Gordon
Encyclopedia
Alexander Theodore Gordon (11 May 1881 – 6 March 1919) was a British Conservative
politician. He was elected Member of Parliament
for Aberdeen and Kincardine Central
in the 1918 General Election, but died two months later.
He had served in the Boer War
, and during the First World War was head of the Forage Department of the War Office
in Scotland, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was also an expert breeder of Shorthorn
Cattle.
At the 1918 General Election, Gordon won the new constituency of Aberdeen and Kincardine Central
by a majority of 638 votes over the Liberal candidate.
He never spoke or voted in Parliament, but shortly before his death he was appointed a member of the House of Commons Scottish Standing Committee.
Gordon died, at Newton Insch
, Aberdeenshire
aged 37, from heart failure after suffering from influenza
, just over two months after his election. He thus became one of the shortest-serving MPs in history. It is likely that Gordon was a victim of the 1918 flu pandemic. At the subsequent by-election Murdoch McKenzie Wood
gained the seat for the Liberals.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Aberdeen and Kincardine Central
Aberdeen and Kincardine Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen and Kincardine Central, also known as Central Aberdeenshire, was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1950...
in the 1918 General Election, but died two months later.
He had served in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
, and during the First World War was head of the Forage Department of the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
in Scotland, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was also an expert breeder of Shorthorn
Shorthorn
The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late 18th century. The breed was developed as dual purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however there were always certain blood lines within the breed which emphasised one quality or the other...
Cattle.
At the 1918 General Election, Gordon won the new constituency of Aberdeen and Kincardine Central
Aberdeen and Kincardine Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen and Kincardine Central, also known as Central Aberdeenshire, was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1950...
by a majority of 638 votes over the Liberal candidate.
He never spoke or voted in Parliament, but shortly before his death he was appointed a member of the House of Commons Scottish Standing Committee.
Gordon died, at Newton Insch
Insch
Insch is a village in Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located approximately from the city of Aberdeen.-Etymology:The name of the village may have come from the Scottish Gaelic innis, meaning an island, or, as in this context, a piece of terra firma in a marsh...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
aged 37, from heart failure after suffering from influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, just over two months after his election. He thus became one of the shortest-serving MPs in history. It is likely that Gordon was a victim of the 1918 flu pandemic. At the subsequent by-election Murdoch McKenzie Wood
Murdoch McKenzie Wood
Major Sir Murdoch McKenzie Wood OBE, DL was a Scottish Liberal politician.The second son of James Wood of Cullen, Banffshire, Wood was educated at Edinburgh University...
gained the seat for the Liberals.