Patrick Gordon
Encyclopedia
Patrick Leopold Gordon (March 31, 1635 – November 29, 1699) was general
of the Imperial Russian army
, of Scottish
origin. He was descended from a Scottish family of Aberdeenshire, holders of the small estate of Auchleuchries, the family were connected with the house of Haddo
.
. After completing his education at the parish
schools of Cruden
and Ellon
, he entered, at age fifteen, the Jesuit college
at Braunsberg, East Prussia
(then belonging to Poland
); however, his character did not tolerate well the strict and somber way of life at the school, and soon decided to return home. He changed his mind, however, before re-embarking on the journey back to Scotland, and after journeying on foot in several parts of what is today Germany
, he ultimately enlisted at Hamburg
in the military of Sweden
in 1655.
In the course of the next five years he served alternately for Poland
and Sweden
and was taken prisoner by both. At the Battle of Chudnov in 1660, Gordon was wounded. Upon hearing of the Stuart restoration, Gordon left Polish service, but found himself unable to obtain military employment in Britain. In 1661, after further experience as a soldier of fortune
, he took up service in the Russian army under Tsar
Aleksei I, and in 1665 was sent on a special mission to England
. After his return he distinguished himself in several wars against the Turk and Tatar ethnic groups in southern Russia. Gordon disliked Russian service, complaining of the corruption and venality of Russian officials, which left Gordon in his own words "almost at wits end with vexation". In recognition of his services he was made major-general in 1678, was appointed to the high command at Kiev
in 1679, and in 1683 was made lieutenant-general.
He visited England in 1686. In 1687 and 1689 he took part as quartermaster general
in expeditions against the Tatars
in the Crimea
, being made full general
for his services. On the breaking out of revolution in Moscow
in 1689, Gordon with the troops under his command virtually decided events in favour of Tsar Peter I
, and against the Regent
, tsarevna
Sophia Alekseyevna
. Consequently he was for the remainder of his life in high favour with the Tsar, who confided to him the command of his capital during his absence from Russia. In 1696, Gordon' s "moveable rampart" played a key role in helping the Russians take Azov.
The Tsar employed him in organizing his army according to the European system; and later raised him to the rank of general-in-chief.
At the end of his life the Tsar, who had visited him frequently during his illness, was with him when he died, and with his own hands closed his eyes.
He was not the only Scottish soldier in the Tsar's service; his compatriots Paul Menesius
and Alexander Livingston
also found themselves in Russia fleeing religious intolerance or seeking adventure.
General Gordon left behind him a diary of his life, written in English. This was preserved in manuscript
form in the archives of the Imperial Russian foreign office. A complete German translation, edited by Dr Moritz Posselt (Tagebuch des Generals Patrick Gordon) was published, the first volume at Moscow in 1849, the second at St Petersburg in 1851, and the third at St Petersburg in 1853; and Passages from the Diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries (1635–1699), was printed, under the editorship of Joseph Robertson
, for the Spalding Club
, at Aberdeen
, Scotland
, 1859. A new version of his diaries in English were printed in 2009 in the UK.
His daughter (died 1739) was married firstly to a German colonel Strasburgh, and then from 1699 or 1700 to his friend in Russian service General Alexander Gordon, author of "The History of Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia" book.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of the Imperial Russian army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, of Scottish
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...
origin. He was descended from a Scottish family of Aberdeenshire, holders of the small estate of Auchleuchries, the family were connected with the house of Haddo
Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a Scottish clan. The chief of the clan was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.-Origins:...
.
Life
He was raised and remained a lifelong Catholic, at a time when the Catholic Church was being persecuted in Scotland, which had become CalvinistCalvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
. After completing his education at the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
schools of Cruden
Cruden
Cruden may refer to:People* Aaron Cruden , rugby player* Alexander Cruden , author* Damian Cruden, theatre director* Kwamé Cruden , footballerOther* Cruden Bay, village in Scotland...
and Ellon
Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the Eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine...
, he entered, at age fifteen, the Jesuit college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
at Braunsberg, East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
(then belonging to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
); however, his character did not tolerate well the strict and somber way of life at the school, and soon decided to return home. He changed his mind, however, before re-embarking on the journey back to Scotland, and after journeying on foot in several parts of what is today Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he ultimately enlisted at Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
in the military of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1655.
In the course of the next five years he served alternately for Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and was taken prisoner by both. At the Battle of Chudnov in 1660, Gordon was wounded. Upon hearing of the Stuart restoration, Gordon left Polish service, but found himself unable to obtain military employment in Britain. In 1661, after further experience as a soldier of fortune
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
, he took up service in the Russian army under Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Aleksei I, and in 1665 was sent on a special mission to England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
. After his return he distinguished himself in several wars against the Turk and Tatar ethnic groups in southern Russia. Gordon disliked Russian service, complaining of the corruption and venality of Russian officials, which left Gordon in his own words "almost at wits end with vexation". In recognition of his services he was made major-general in 1678, was appointed to the high command at Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in 1679, and in 1683 was made lieutenant-general.
He visited England in 1686. In 1687 and 1689 he took part as quartermaster general
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
in expeditions against the Tatars
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
in the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, being made full general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
for his services. On the breaking out of revolution in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1689, Gordon with the troops under his command virtually decided events in favour of Tsar Peter I
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
, and against the Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
, tsarevna
Tsarevna
Tsarevna or czarevna is the daughter of a Tsar or Tsaritsa, similar to a princess being the daughter of a King or Queen. A Tsarevna could also be the wife to a Tsar's son....
Sophia Alekseyevna
Sophia Alekseyevna
Sophia Alekseyevna was a regent of Russian Tsardom who allied herself with a singularly capable courtier and politician, Prince Vasily Galitzine, to install herself as a regent during the minority of her brothers, Peter the Great and Ivan V...
. Consequently he was for the remainder of his life in high favour with the Tsar, who confided to him the command of his capital during his absence from Russia. In 1696, Gordon' s "moveable rampart" played a key role in helping the Russians take Azov.
At the end of his life the Tsar, who had visited him frequently during his illness, was with him when he died, and with his own hands closed his eyes.
He was not the only Scottish soldier in the Tsar's service; his compatriots Paul Menesius
Paul Menesius
Paul Menesius was a Scottish soldier and diplomat, who spent most of his life in the service of the Russian Tsar Alexei.-Life:...
and Alexander Livingston
Alexander Livingston
Alexander Livingston may refer to:*Alexander Livingston, 5th Lord Livingston *Alexander Livingston, 1st Earl of Linlithgow *Alexander Livingston, 2nd Earl of Linlithgow See also*Alexander Livingstone...
also found themselves in Russia fleeing religious intolerance or seeking adventure.
General Gordon left behind him a diary of his life, written in English. This was preserved in manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
form in the archives of the Imperial Russian foreign office. A complete German translation, edited by Dr Moritz Posselt (Tagebuch des Generals Patrick Gordon) was published, the first volume at Moscow in 1849, the second at St Petersburg in 1851, and the third at St Petersburg in 1853; and Passages from the Diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries (1635–1699), was printed, under the editorship of Joseph Robertson
Joseph Robertson (historian)
-Life:He was born in Aberdeen on 17 May 1810. His father, having tried his fortune in England, had returned to his native county, where he was first a small farmer, and afterwards a small shopkeeper, at Wolmanhill, Aberdeen. His mother was left a widow when Joseph was only seven, and he was...
, for the Spalding Club
Spalding Club
The Spalding Club is the name of successive antiquarian societies founded in Aberdeen.The clubs were named for the seventeenth century historian John Spalding....
, at Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, 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...
, 1859. A new version of his diaries in English were printed in 2009 in the UK.
His daughter (died 1739) was married firstly to a German colonel Strasburgh, and then from 1699 or 1700 to his friend in Russian service General Alexander Gordon, author of "The History of Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia" book.
External links
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8037674.stm BBC news article and photograph