He was a son of James Gordon of Ellon, Aberdeenshire and Elizabeth Glen, the latter being a sister of James Glen, governor of South Carolina.

[1] His brother was Lieutenant Colonel James Gordon.

[1] Born in Scotland, Gordon became a major in the 26th Regiment of Foot in 1777.

[2] He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1784, colonel in 1790,[3] major-general in 1794,[4] and lieutenant-general in 1801 (from brevet, 1799).

[5] He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jersey in 1797[2][6] and died in office in 1806.