Sir Robert Gordon, 3rd Baronet facts for kids
Sir Robert Gordon (born 1647, died 1704) was a Scottish gentleman who worked for the king and was also involved in politics. He held the title of the 3rd Baronet of Gordonstoun.
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His Early Life and Studies
Robert Gordon was born on March 7, 1647. He was the oldest son of Sir Ludovick Gordon, who was the 2nd Baronet of Gordonstoun in a place called Drainie. His mother was Elizabeth Farquhar. Robert's grandfather was Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet.
When he was younger, Robert traveled around Europe. He spent time learning about interesting subjects like mechanics (how machines work) and chemistry.
His Work in Politics and Science
Robert Gordon became a knight in 1673. In September 1685, he inherited his father's special title, becoming the 3rd Baronet.
He was a representative for Sutherland in the Scottish Parliament several times, from 1672 to 1674, and again in 1678, 1681–82, and 1685–86. This meant he helped make decisions for Scotland.
King James II was interested in Robert's scientific ideas and inventions. The King even made him a part of his royal household. On February 3, 1686, Robert was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society, which is a famous group of scientists.
Sir Robert Gordon passed away in 1704.
His Legacy and Inventions
In April 1687, Robert Gordon shared some of his knowledge with the Royal Society. He sent them a "Receipt to cure Mad Dogs," which was a kind of recipe or method to help animals (and even people) bitten by rabid dogs. He shared this information because the king asked him to.
After he died, his wife built a special monument, called a mausoleum, to remember him. It was built near his home at Gordonstoun. People in the area used to tell stories about him, calling him "Sir Robert the warlock" (meaning a magician), because he was so interested in science and had a secret underground laboratory at Gordonstoun.
His Family Life
Sir Robert Gordon was married two times:
- On February 23, 1676, he married Margaret. She was the daughter of William Forbes, 11th Lord Forbes. Margaret passed away in April 1677, and they had one daughter.
- Later, he married Elizabeth. She was the only daughter of Sir William Dunbar. Robert and Elizabeth had three sons and four daughters. His oldest son, Sir Robert Gordon, 4th Baronet, took over the baronetcy after him.
