Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/148

 His chief publication was 'The Ecclesiastical Chronicle for Scotland' (4 vols. Glasgow, 1867), an elaborate and erudite work, which displayed much research; the first two volumes, entitled 'Scotichronicon,' contain a sketch of the pre-Reformation church, and an extended version of Keith's 'Catalogue of Scottish Bishops'; the third and fourth volumes, entitled 'Monasticon,' give the history of the Scottish monasteries, and biographies of the Roman catholic bishops of the post-Reformation mission. Gordon also published (all at Glasgow): 1. 'Glasghu Facies' (a history of Glasgow, written in a lively style), 1872. 2. 'The Book of the Chronicles of Keith, Grange, Ruthven, Caimey, and Botriphnie,' 1880. 3. New edition of Lachlan Shaw's 'History of the Province of Moray,' 1882. 4. 'Zona, a Description of the Island,' 1885. 5. 'Vade Mecum to and through the Cathedral of St. Kentigem of Glasgow,' 1894. Gordon also contributed an article on the 'Scottish Episcopal Church' to the 'Cyclopædia of Religious Denominations' (London, 1853), and wrote on 'Meteorology ' to several encyclopædias and journals. In 1857 he received the degree of D.D. from Hobart College, U.S.A. He was an enthusiastic Freemason, having been initiated as a student at St. Andrews in 1841, and he was the oldest member of the craft at his death. After resigning the charge of St. Andrew's Church in 1890 he lived in retirement at Beith, Ayrshire, and died there on 23 Jan. 1904. He was interred with masonic honours in Beith cemetery.

 GORDON, JOHN JAMES HOOD (1832–1908), general, born on 12 Jan. 1832 at Aberdeen, was twin son of Captain William Gordon (1788–1834), 2nd Queen's royal regiment. The father served through the Peninsular war, and married at Santarem in 1818 Marianna Carlotta Loi, daughter of Luiz Conçalves de Mello, a government official in the province of Estremadura. His twin brother is General Sir Thomas Edward Gordon, K.C.B. The twins were the youngest children in a family of four sons and a daughter. John was educated at Dalmeny and at the Scottish Naval and Military Academy, Edinburgh, and with his twin brother entered the army, joining the 29th foot on 21 Aug. 1849, and becoming lieutenant on 9 Jan. 1864. He served in the Indian Mutiny campaign of 1857–8 with the Jaunpur field force, attached to 97th regiment. He was at the actions of Nasrutpur, Chanda (31 Oct.), Ameerpur, and Sultanpur, at the siege and capture of Lucknow, and storming of the Kaiser Bagh. The medal with clasp was awarded him. From September 1858 to April 1859 he acted as field-adjutant to Colonel (Sir) William Turner, commanding the troops on the Grand Trunk Road, near Benares, and the field force during operations in Shahabad. He was engaged in the final attack on Jugdespur, and in the action of Nowadi, and the subsequent pursuit. Mentioned in despatches, he was promoted captain on 2 Dec. 1859, and was made brevet-major on 30 Nov. 1860 (Land. Gaz. 22 Feb. 1859). Gordon performed regimental duty in India for the next eighteen years; he was promoted major in 1860 and exchanged into the 46th regiment. Subsequently he was given the command of the 29th Punjab infantry, becoming lieut.-colonel on 21 Aug. 1875, and brevet colonel on 23 Feb. 1877. He served with the Jowaki Afridi expedition in 1877-8, and was thrice mentioned in despatches, receiving the medal and clasp.

In the Afghan war of 1878-9 he played a prominent part, commanding the 29th Punjab infantry, which was attached to the Kurram Valley column. He led a reconnaissance in force at Habib Kila on 28 Nov. 1878, and discovered that the Afghans, so far from abandoning their guns as had been reported, had taken up a strong position on the top of the pass. Gordon's report made Sir Frederick (afterwards Lord) Roberts abandon all idea of a frontal attack on the Peiwar Kotal (, Forty-one Years in India, 1898, p. 354). Gordon's regiment formed the advance guard in the turning movement on the Spingawi Kotal on 2 Dec. During the night march some Pathans of the 29th Punjab infantry fired signal shots to warn the enemy of the British advance. The regiment was immediately displaced from its leading position. An inquiry instituted by Gordon resulted in the discovery of some of the culprits. Subsequently he was engaged in the Zaimukht expedition, including the assault of Zava, where he commanded the right column of General Tytler's force. For his services in the Afghan war he received the medal with clasp and was made C.B. in 1879. In expeditions to Karmana and against the Malikshahi Waziris in 1880 he was brigadier-general in command of the troops (Lond. Gaz. 4 Feb. and 7 Nov. 1879). He also