Lewis Gordon, 3rd Marquess of Huntly facts for kids

Lewis Gordon, 3rd Marquess of Huntly (around 1626–1653) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the third son of George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly.

Biography of Lewis Gordon

Early Life and Adventures

Lewis Gordon was born when his father was a commander in the Garde Écossaise, a Scottish guard unit in France. He was named after Louis XIII of France. Young Lewis was raised by his grandfather, George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, until he was about ten years old.

Even as a child, Lewis showed a love for adventure. He once took some jewels and tried to sail to Holland. He probably wanted to join the army there.

When he was thirteen, the First Bishops' War began in Scotland. Lewis secretly left Gordon Castle. Some stories say he even climbed over the wall! He quickly went to the Highlands. There, he gathered a group of clansmen from his family's lands. He wanted to fight against the Covenanters. His first battle was at Megray Hill. His Highlanders ran away when they faced enemy cannons.

Learning to Be a Soldier

After the war ended, Lord Lewis traveled to France. He joined an infantry regiment as a regular pikeman. This meant he started at the very bottom. He wanted to learn how to be a soldier from the ground up.

After three years, he went to England. He served in the First English Civil War. He fought for both sides during this conflict. First, he joined the Royalist army. Then, he fought with the Scottish Covenanter forces. These forces were led by his uncle, the Earl of Argyll. This was the same army he had fought against in 1639.

Fighting in the Civil War

Lord Lewis also fought in the Scottish Civil War. He played a key role when his father took over Aberdeen in 1646. During this time, he fought an enemy cavalry commander in a one-on-one battle. He then helped storm the town.

After the Royalists lost the war, he went back to France. Soon after, he became the Earl of Enzie and Marquess of Gordon. He took over these titles after his brother and father passed away. By 1651, he was allowed to return to Scotland. He did not agree with the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. He was likely a Roman Catholic.

In 1645, Lord Lewis attacked Brodie Castle in Moray. He set it on fire. This act destroyed important old documents. These papers told the history of the famous Clan Brodie. This event made Clan Brodie's origins a great mystery in Scotland.

Later Life and Legacy

Lewis Gordon died when he was only 26 or 27 years old. He left behind his young wife. She had reportedly become Catholic because of him. He also had three daughters. His four-year-old son would later become the 1st Duke of Gordon.

Miles Gourdon was a cavalry commander in the French army. He was known as the chevalier or count of "Crolis." He might have been an illegitimate son of Lewis Gordon. People said he was a brother of the duke.

Historians have different opinions about Lewis Gordon. His relative, Patrick Gordon of Ruthven, saw him as a clear hero in the Civil War. However, John Buchan thought he was wild and stubborn.