Gordon was born in Aberdeenshire, and studied arts and medicine at King's College, Aberdeen, and at the University of Edinburgh, at which latter he graduated with an MA in 1802.
In 1803, when eighteen years of age, he was appointed assistant-surgeon in the army, and soon after joined the 91st Highlanders, accompanying the regiment to Hanover in 1805.
He saw service also in the Peninsula, and escaped shipwreck in the Douro (one of seven survivors) while in charge of invalids from Sir J. Moore's army.
Having been badly wounded in crossing the frontier into France, he was brought home and was invalided for a year.
After the peace he was chosen by Sir J. MacGrigor to be professional assistant at the medical board of the war office, and spent the remaining 30 years of his life in that administrative capacity.