James Willoughby Gordon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir James Willoughby Gordon
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Sir James Willoughby Gordon
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| Born | 21 October 1772 |
| Died | 4 January 1851 (aged 78) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Quartermaster-General to the Forces |
| Battles/wars | Peninsular War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order |
General Sir James Willoughby Gordon, 1st Baronet GCB GCH (born October 21, 1772 – died January 4, 1851) was an important officer in the British Army. He is best known for being the Quartermaster-General to the Forces for a very long time, about 40 years.
Contents
Early Life and Family
James Willoughby Gordon was the oldest son of Captain Francis Grant-Gordon, who was in the Royal Navy. His mother was Mary. She was the daughter of Sir Willoughby Aston.
James had two younger brothers. Charles Gordon and Henry Gordon both became admirals in the Royal Navy. Henry was also the mayor of Bath twice.
Military Career
James Gordon joined the 66th Regiment of Foot as an officer in 1783. This was the start of his long military career.
Early Appointments
In 1795, he became an Assistant Adjutant General in Ireland. Later, in 1801, he led the 85th Regiment of Foot in Madeira. He then became Deputy Adjutant-General in the West Indies.
After these roles, he worked as an Aide de Camp and Military Secretary for the Duke of Kent. In 1803, he returned to England. There, he became the Assistant Quartermaster-General.
Key Roles and Promotions
In 1804, James Gordon became the Military Secretary to Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. Prince Frederick was the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. Gordon later served as Commissary-in-Chief to the Forces starting in 1809.
He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1825. This showed his growing importance in the army.
Quartermaster-General
Sir James Gordon held the important role of Quartermaster-General to the Forces from 1811 to 1851. This means he was in charge of supplies, movements, and planning for the army. He held this position for 40 years.
During this time, he supported the story of Robert Adams. Adams was an adventurer who shared his experiences from North Africa. Many people doubted Adams' story. However, Gordon publicly stated that he believed Adams was telling the truth.
Later Commands
From 1815 to 1823, he was the colonel of the 85th (Bucks Volunteers) Regiment of Foot. After that, he became the colonel of the 23rd Regiment of Foot in 1823. He was promoted to full general on November 23, 1841.
Death and Burial
Sir James Gordon passed away in 1851. He died at his home in the Royal Hospital Chelsea from a serious illness called bronchitis. His body was taken by train and buried in his family's burial place at Knighton on the Isle of Wight.
Honours and Achievements
Sir James Gordon received many honours during his life. In 1801, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group for scientists.
In 1818, he was made a Baronet. This meant he received the title Baronet Gordon of Northcourt. He also received two very important awards:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order (GCH) in 1825
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 1831
He also served as a Member of Parliament for Launceston from 1830 to 1831.
Family Life
On October 15, 1805, James Gordon married Julia Lavinia. She was the daughter of Richard Henry Alexander Bennet. They lived at Northcourt Manor on the Isle of Wight.
They had one son named Henry. Henry later became the second and last baronet. They also had a daughter named Julia Emily. She was born on October 13, 1810. Julia Emily became a well-known artist, just like her mother.
Images for kids
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James Willoughby Gordon memorial in St Peter's Church, Shorwell, Isle of Wight
