John Gordon, 7th/10th Viscount of Kenmure facts for kids
Captain John Gordon, 7th or 10th Viscount of Kenmure (1750 – 21 September 1840), known as John Gordon until 1824, was a Scottish nobleman. He came from a very old and important family in Scotland.
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Who Was John Gordon?
John Gordon was born in 1750. He was the oldest living son of John Gordon, who would have been the 8th Viscount of Kenmure. His grandfather, William Gordon, the 6th Viscount of Kenmure, had lost his titles because of his part in the Jacobite Rising of 1715. This meant the family's important titles were taken away. John's mother was Frances Mackenzie. Her father was William Mackenzie, the 5th Earl of Seaforth.
A Career in Service
John Gordon became a captain in the 17th Regiment of Foot, which was a part of the British Army. He also got involved in politics. In 1781, he was elected to Parliament for the area called the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for about a year, until 1782.
Getting His Titles Back
For many years, John Gordon's family did not have their noble titles. But in 1824, a special law was passed by the British Parliament. This law gave John Gordon his family's titles back. He became the Viscount of Kenmure. Even though he got his Scottish noble title back, it did not give him a seat in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is a very important part of the UK Parliament. He was also never chosen to be a Scottish Representative Peer. This was a special role for Scottish nobles to represent their country in the House of Lords.
Meeting a Famous Poet
In July 1793, a very famous Scottish poet named Robert Burns visited John Gordon. Robert Burns and his friend John Syme stayed with John Gordon and his wife. They visited them at their home, Kenmure Castle, during their trip around Galloway, Scotland.
His Later Life
Lord Kenmure lived a long life. He passed away in September 1840 when he was 90 years old. He did not have any children of his own. After he died, his nephew, Adam, became the next Viscount of Kenmure.
