Lord Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton facts for kids
Lord Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton (born October 10, 1777 – died December 25, 1841) was an important Scottish soldier and politician. He served in the army and later became a Member of Parliament, representing the area of Forfarshire.
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Early Life and Family History
Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton was born as Douglas Gordon. His father was Charles Gordon, 4th Earl of Aboyne. His mother was Mary, who came from the Douglas family. In 1784, when he was just seven years old, Douglas inherited a large estate called Pitcur. This happened after his cousin, Hamilton Douglas Halyburton, passed away. Because he inherited the estate, Douglas took on the name and family crest of Hallyburton of Pitcur. This meant his full name became Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton.
A Career in the Army
Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton started his military career very young. On March 28, 1795, he joined the British Army as an Ensign. This was a junior officer rank. He quickly moved up the ranks. By August of the same year, he became a Lieutenant. Just a few days later, he was promoted to Captain.
He served during the French Revolutionary War. This was a big conflict in Europe. He even carried important messages from the battlefield in 1796. After some time, he joined the 22nd Regiment of Foot. On Christmas Day in 1798, he moved to the 1st Foot Guards. He kept his rank as Captain. Later, in 1803, he became an Assistant Adjutant General with the rank of Major. This was a significant role in the army.
Marriage and Family Life
On July 16, 1807, Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton got married in Dublin. His wife was Louisa Leslie. She was the daughter of Sir Edward Leslie. Douglas and Louisa were married for many years, but they did not have any children.
Entering the World of Politics
Lord Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton also had a career in politics. In 1828, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Forfarshire. This was an important local role. In 1831, the Member of Parliament for Forfarshire, William Ramsay Maule, became a peer. This meant there was an election to choose a new MP.
Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton was chosen to represent Forfarshire in Parliament. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1832 and 1835. This showed that people in Forfarshire supported him.
A New Title
In 1836, his half-brother, George Gordon, became the Marquess of Huntly. Because of this, Douglas was given a special rank and title. On June 29, 1836, he officially became Lord Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton. This new title recognized his family's important position.
He was elected again for Forfarshire in 1837. He continued to serve in Parliament until the general election of 1841. Lord Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton passed away later that year, on Christmas Day. His nephew, Lord Frederick Gordon, inherited his estates and also took over his seat in Parliament. His wife, Louisa, lived until 1851.
