Gordon was born in Plainfield, Connecticut and studied law at Harvard University.

He later moved to Michigan, establishing a practice in Marshall, and also lived for a time in Battle Creek.

Gordon became the third governor of Michigan ex officio, when William Woodbridge resigned on February 23, 1841, to become a U.S.

He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Representative from Michigan's 2nd congressional district in 1846 and 1847, defeated by John Smith Chipman.

Gordon was the U.S. Consul in Pernambuco, Brazil, from 1850 to 1853 and died at the age of 44 while in office, when he accidentally fell to his death from a second-story balcony.