[1] He was born into a socially prominent New South Wales rural family and was president of the Australian Club.
[2] Gordon was born at the now heritage listed rural homestead Manar House near Braidwood, New South Wales, the second son of William Forbes Gordon and Beatrice Deuchar (née Allan) and was always known by his second Christian name of Deuchar.
[3] In 1891, Gordon returned to Manar and remained there until his marriage in 1901 to Charlotte Louise (Bunty) Campbell.
[5] The Gordons lived for the next decade at Werriwa homestead, another family property near Bungendore, and had four children.
[3] Gordon accepted the seat on the Board of Perpetual Trustee Company (Limited) that was made vacant by the resignation of Joe Abbott on his appointment to the Federal Cabinet.