He supported the recently fallen Duke of Newcastle during the parliamentary inquiry into his ministry's role in the loss of Menorca.

On 19 January 1763, he was made colonel of the 66th Regiment of Foot, and the next year, toured the West Indies, the American colonies, and Canada, looking to invest in land.

[1] On 2 September 1767, he married Jean, Dowager Duchess of Atholl (daughter of John Drummond[3]), and laid aside his American projects.

A zealous supporter of Lord North's government, he was appointed Governor of Tynemouth in 1778 and colonel of The Royal Scots on 9 May 1782.

Gordon was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Scotland in 1789, promoted general in 1793, and resigned Tynemouth for the governorship of Edinburgh Castle in 1796.