George Gordon, 1st Earl of Aberdeen
Encyclopedia
George Gordon, 1st Earl of Aberdeen (6 October 1637 – 20 April 1720), Lord Chancellor of Scotland, was the second son of Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo
, Aberdeenshire
, (executed in 1644); by his wife, Mary Forbes.
abroad.
the sequestration of his father's lands was annulled, and in 1665 he succeeded by the death of his elder brother
as the 3rd Baronet Gordon, of Haddo
and to the family estates. He returned home in 1667, was admitted advocate
in 1668 and gained a high legal reputation. He represented Aberdeenshire in the Parliament of Scotland
of 1669 and in the following assemblies, during his first session strongly opposing the projected union of the two legislatures. In November 1678 he was made a Privy Counsellor
for Scotland
, and in 1680 was raised to the bench
as Lord Haddo. He was a leading member of the Duke of York
's administration, was created a Lord of the Articles in June and in November 1681 Lord President of the Privy Council
. The same year he is reported as moving in the council for the torture of witnesses.
In 1682 he was made Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and was created, on 13 November, Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Formartine, and Lord Haddo, Methlick, Tarves and Kellie, in the Scottish peerage, being appointed also Sheriff Principal
of Aberdeenshire
and Midlothian
.
Burnet reflects unfavourably upon him, calls him a proud and covetous man, and declares:
He executed the laws enforcing religious conformity with severity, and filled the parish churches, but resisted the excessive measures of tyranny prescribed by the English government; and in consequence of an intrigue of the Duke of Queensberry
and Lord Perth
, who gained the duchess of Portsmouth
with a present of £27,000, he was dismissed in 1684.
After his fall he was subjected to various petty prosecutions by his victorious rivals with the view of discovering some act of maladministration on which to found a charge against him, but the investigations only served to strengthen his credit. He took an active part in parliament in 1685 and 1686, but remained a non-juror during the whole of William
's reign, being frequently fined for his non-attendance, and took the oaths for the first time after Anne's accession, on 11 May 1703.
In the great affair of the Union in 1707
, while protesting against the completion of the treaty till the act declaring the Scots aliens should be repealed, he refused to support the opposition to the measure itself and refrained from attending parliament when the treaty was settled.
He is described by John Mackay as
His person was said to be deformed, and his want of mine or deportment was alleged as a disqualification for the office of Lord Chancellor.
, daughter and (eventual) sole heiress of George Lockhart of Tarbrax
and Anne Lockhart, in 1671, and had issue:
His only surviving son, William, succeeded him as 2nd earl of Aberdeen. He died on 20 April 1720, having amassed a large fortune.
Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo
Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet was a Scottish Royalist supporter of Charles I during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Gordon distinguished himself against the covenanters at Turriff, 1639, and joined Charles I in England...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire (historic)
Aberdeenshire or the County of Aberdeen is a registration county of Scotland. This area is also a lieutenancy area.Until 1975 Aberdeenshire was one of the counties of Scotland, governed by a county council from 1890...
, (executed in 1644); by his wife, Mary Forbes.
Education
He graduated M.A., and was chosen professor at King's College, Aberdeen, in 1658. Subsequently he traveled and studied civil lawCivil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
abroad.
Career
At the RestorationEnglish Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
the sequestration of his father's lands was annulled, and in 1665 he succeeded by the death of his elder brother
Sir John Gordon, 2nd Baronet, of Haddo
Sir John Gordon, 2nd Baronet was the eldest son of Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo and Mary Forbes. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baronet on the execution of his father for treason on 19 July 1644, but due to his father's attainder, was under forfeiture until the Restoration in 1660...
as the 3rd Baronet Gordon, of Haddo
Gordon Baronets
- Gordon of Letterfourie, Sutherland :The creation of Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, 4th son of the Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, to the Baronetage of Nova Scotia was the first such in that Baronetage, and until the line failed in 1908 were the premier baronets in Scotland.-Gordon of...
and to the family estates. He returned home in 1667, was admitted advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
in 1668 and gained a high legal reputation. He represented Aberdeenshire in the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
of 1669 and in the following assemblies, during his first session strongly opposing the projected union of the two legislatures. In November 1678 he was made a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and in 1680 was raised to the bench
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
as Lord Haddo. He was a leading member of the Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
's administration, was created a Lord of the Articles in June and in November 1681 Lord President of the Privy Council
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
. The same year he is reported as moving in the council for the torture of witnesses.
In 1682 he was made Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and was created, on 13 November, Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Formartine, and Lord Haddo, Methlick, Tarves and Kellie, in the Scottish peerage, being appointed also Sheriff Principal
Sheriff Principal
The office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office. It is one of great antiquity, having existed continuously since around the 11th century...
of 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...
and Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
.
Burnet reflects unfavourably upon him, calls him a proud and covetous man, and declares:
- the new chancellor exceeded all that had gone before him.
He executed the laws enforcing religious conformity with severity, and filled the parish churches, but resisted the excessive measures of tyranny prescribed by the English government; and in consequence of an intrigue of the Duke of Queensberry
William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry
William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry PC also 3rd Earl of Queensberry and 1st Marquess of Queensberry was a Scottish politician....
and Lord Perth
James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth
James Drummond, 1st Duke of Perth KT PC , also 4th Earl of Perth and 7th Lord Drummond, was a Scottish statesman, and Jacobite.-Family:...
, who gained the duchess of Portsmouth
Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth
Louise Renée de Penancoët de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth was a mistress of Charles II of England. Through her son by Charles II, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, she is ancestress of both wives of The Prince of Wales: the late Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as The Duchess of...
with a present of £27,000, he was dismissed in 1684.
After his fall he was subjected to various petty prosecutions by his victorious rivals with the view of discovering some act of maladministration on which to found a charge against him, but the investigations only served to strengthen his credit. He took an active part in parliament in 1685 and 1686, but remained a non-juror during the whole of William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
's reign, being frequently fined for his non-attendance, and took the oaths for the first time after Anne's accession, on 11 May 1703.
In the great affair of the Union in 1707
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
, while protesting against the completion of the treaty till the act declaring the Scots aliens should be repealed, he refused to support the opposition to the measure itself and refrained from attending parliament when the treaty was settled.
He is described by John Mackay as
- very knowing in the laws and constitution of his country and is believed to be the solidest statesman in Scotland, a fine orator, speaks slow but sure.
His person was said to be deformed, and his want of mine or deportment was alleged as a disqualification for the office of Lord Chancellor.
Family
He married Anne LockhartAnne Lockhart, Countess of Aberdeen
Anne Lockhart was the daughter of George Lockhart of Tarbrax and Anne Lockhart of Tarbrax. She had a brother William Lockhart of Tarbrax....
, daughter and (eventual) sole heiress of George Lockhart of Tarbrax
George Lockhart of Tarbrax
George Lockhart of Tarbrax was a son of Sir Allan Lockhart of Cleghorn. He married Anne Lockhart of Tarbrax daughter of Sir James Lockhart of Lee...
and Anne Lockhart, in 1671, and had issue:
- John Gordon (1673–1675)
- Hon. George Gordon, Lord Haddo (1674 – aft.1694), d.v.p.s.p.
- Lady Anne Gordon (1675–1709), married Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of EglintonAlexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of EglintonAlexander Seton Montgomerie was the ninth Earl of Eglinton in the Peerage of Scotland.Although from a traditionally Roman Catholic family, Eglinton became one of the first firmly Presbyterian nobles. During the English Civil War he was colonel of horse in the army supporting the English...
- Hon. James Gordon (1676–?), d.v.p.s.p.
- Lady Jean Gordon (1678–?)
- William Gordon, 2nd Earl of AberdeenWilliam Gordon, 2nd Earl of AberdeenWilliam Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen , known between c. 1691 and 1720 as Lord Haddo, was a Scottish peer, Tory politician and Jacobite....
(1679–30 March 1746) - Lady Martha Gordon (1681– ?), married John Udny of Udny in March 1701
- Lady Mary Gordon (1682–1753), married Alexander Fraser, 13th Lord Saltoun, 26 October 1707
- Lady Margaret Gordon (d.1738)
His only surviving son, William, succeeded him as 2nd earl of Aberdeen. He died on 20 April 1720, having amassed a large fortune.