UCL

James Gordon

Profile & Legacies Summary

1758 - 18th Feb 1822

Slave-owner and antecedent of claimant or beneficiary

Biography

  1. Son of James Brebner Gordon (d. 1807, Chief Justice of Antigua) and Anne Lavington, and father of James Adam Gordon (q.v.). Committed suicide at Hill Street Berkeley Square 18/02/1822. Educated Winchester (other sources say Harrow) and St John's Cambridge. Practising barrister of New Court Inner Temple. 'Succeeded to the estates of his uncle [in fact, his great-uncle] James Gordon in Hertfordshire, Aberdeenshire and the West Indies.' Lived at Hill Street and Moor Place, Much Hadham Herts. Married Harriot Whitbread, daughter of Samuel Whitbread I, the brewer and MP, in 1789. MP Stockbridge (1785-90); Truro (1790-96); Clitheroe (1808-12). Left £100,000.

Sources

  1. William D. Rubinstein, Who were the rich? A biographical dictionary of British wealth-holders Volume One 1809-1839 (London, Social Affairs Unit, 2009) reference 1822/21, sourced to History of Parliament.

Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Spouse
Harriot Whitbread
Children
James Adam Gordon
Wealth at death
£100,000
School
Winchester or Harrow
University
St Johns College, Cambridge
Legal Education
Lincolns Inn [1780-]
Occupation
Lawyer
Religion
Anglican
Rubinstein
1822/21

Associated Estates (3)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1807 [EA] - 1822 [LA] → Owner
Fairhall [ St Vincent ]

Shown as owner in the Slave Registers1817-1822, but under his father's will in fact tenant-for-life.

- 1822 [EY] → Owner
Lavingtons [ Antigua ]
1817 [EA] - 1821 [LA] → Owner
Sandersons [ Antigua ]

Legacies Summary

Political (1)

MP
'Pro-government' / West India interest 
Details
election→
Stockbridge Hampshire
1785 - 1790
election→
Truro Cornwall
1790 - 1796
election→
Clitheroe Lancashire
1808 - 1812

Relationships (9)

James Gordon
Brother-in-laws
Sir William Abdy 6th Bart.
Details
James Gordon
Son → Father
James Brebner Gordon born Brebner
Details
James Gordon
Son → Mother
Anne Brebner Gordon (née Lavington)
Details
James Gordon
Husband → Wife
Harriot Gordon (née Whitbread)
Details
Marriage Details→
No Date 1789
James Gordon
Father → Son
James Adam Gordon Esq.
Details
James Gordon
Great-nephew → Great-uncle
James Gordon of Antigua and Moor Place, 9th of Knockespock
Details
James Gordon
Testator → Trustee
Rev. George Caldwell
Details
Notes→
Rev. George Caldwell was 'nephew by marriage' of James Gordon, having married James Gordon's niece Harriet Abdy....
James Gordon
Uncle → Nephew
Sir William Abdy 7th Bart.
Details
James Gordon
Brother → Sister
Mary Anne Abdy (née Brebner Gordon)
Details

Addresses (2)

Hill Street, Berkeley Square, London, Middlesex, London, England
Details
Moor Place, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, South-east England, England
Details