Overview of Alexander Gordon

Noble and song-writer. The eldest son of Cosmo-George, the 3rd Duke of Gordon (1719-52), who died young and thus his son succeeded to the title aged only nine years of age. He travelled abroad, visiting Italy in 1761. Like his father, Gordon was a loyalist and he raised several regiments for the government.

Gordon was appointed Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland and Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire. In 1761, he was elected one of the Representative Peers for Scotland and was created a Knight of the Order of the Thistle in 1775.

In 1767, he married Jane Maxwell, who was known as the 'beautiful Duchess of Gordon', but she predeceased him. He married again in 1820.

In 1784, Gordon was given appointments in the British Peerage (rather than the Scottish peerage, which recognised his Duchy); namely the title of Baron Gordon of Huntly and Earl of Norwich, the latter inherited through Lady Elizabeth Howard, his great-grandmother.

Gordon was the author of well-known songs such as Cauld Kail in Aberdeen and The Reel o' Bogie. He was admired by many, including the poet Robert Burns (1759-96), who visited Gordon Castle in 1787 and noted it to be a "fine palace, worthy of the noble, polite and generous proprietor".

In 1793, he was elected Lord Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen.

Gordon lies buried at Elgin Cathedral.