The Straits Times/1848/Lieut. David Macdougal Gordon, R.N.

—It was our painful duty on Friday evening last to follow to the grave the remains of the late Commander of H. M. S. Royalist, Lieut. Gordon, whose death was caused by fever brought on by incessant and unremitting labour in completing the Admiralty survey of the coast of Borneo. In the death of Lieutenant Gordon, the Hydrographical department has lost an energetic, persevering and talented officer, who fell a victim to over attention to the duties of his situation, and engaging in toils far in excess of his physical strength; toils, which undermined a naturally robust constitution and hurried to the grave one whose mind was so engrossed in completing the surveys he had undertaken as to forget the demands of health, and the relaxation indispensable to the human frame under a tropical sun.

Lieut. Gordon was the second son of Mac. Dougal Gordon, of Park House, Banff in Scotland. After serving seven years in the Medeterranean [sic] as a Midshipman and Mate, he left England in 1842 in H. M. S. Wolf to join the Agincourt, hearing the Flag of Read Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane. Whilst on board the Flag ship he distinguished himself as a gunnery officer, and his talents recommended him to the notice of Admiral Cochrane, then naval Commander in chief on the India and China station, by who he was appointed assistant surveyor to Captain Collinson of H. M. Brig Plover. This situation brought out the mental energies and talents of the deceased: he was actively engaged in surveying the group of islands adjacent to Chusan, and elsewhere on the coast of China. After serving as a mate for six years, Mr. Gordon on March 24th, 1845, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. During the period taken up in these surveys on the Coast of China an incident occurred which may be cited as example of his extraordinary zeal, intrepidity and perseverance. the circumstance took place at an island near Chusan, where the Plover was anchored. Mr. Gordon was sent to survey the back of a peninsula as far as he could proceed so as to return to the ship by dusk; the presence of several reefs mdae it impossible to make the circuit by that time. At dusk, to the utter astonishment of all on board the Plover, Mr Gordon was seen returning from the opposite direction to that from whence he was expected: after having reported himself, he, in answer to enquiries as to how he managed to traverse the peninsula, said he thought it best to make a day's work of the survey; having finished it, he with the assistance of his boat's crew, carried the boat about half a mile overland! A mind so resolute and capable of contending with and overcoming difficulties, required only a wider sphere for the exercise of its talents. On the departure of H. M. Brig Plover for England, Captain Collison intimated to the Admiral the high qualifications of Lieutenant Gordon as a surveyor, and the opinion of one so capable of judging received due respect. Mr Gordon was immediately placed in command of H. M. Schooner Young Hebe, in which he rendered invaluable service to his country by making exact surveys of the islands, channels and passages at the back of Hongkong. This latter task was so highly approved by the naval Commander-in-Chief, that H. E. resolved to employ so indefatigable and talented an officer in a wider field, and accordingly appointed Mr. Gordon to the command of H. M. S. Royalist, in which vessel he surveyed the west coast of Formosa during the N. E. monsoon; a task which, in addition to the difficulties of the undertaking, was rendered still more onerous by the weather: during the survey the ship was battened down for six weeks, The successful labours of Lieutenant Gordon pointed him out as the most competent officer to complete the survey of the Coast of Borneo, to examine those parts which had been omitted by Sir Edward Belcher. Exposure, and the lack of fresh provisions made inroads on the strength of the whole ship's company, and the intense application of the Commander, in completeing [sic] his survey of the rivers of Borneo from Sambas to Labuan, seriously affected his health. the Royalist was ordered by the Naval Commander-in-Chief to Singapore, to enable her officers & ship's company to recruit their health; on her passage the vessel was dismasted and narrowly escaped total destruction: reaching Labuan in safety, under jury-masts, the Royalist was towed over to Singapore, Mr. Gordon was sized with an attack of remittent fever, which supervening on a constitution already enfeebled by exposure in a tropical clime, in a few days left its victim prostrate: he died on the morning of December 2d—His earthly course had been marked by a kind amiable upright disposition, and his end realized the peace which virtue assures to those who follow in her steps.—His remains were followed to the grave by His Honor the Governor and other civil authorities, the officers of H. M. Sloop Arab, the Flag Lieutenant and Secretary of the naval Commander-in-chief, Lieut. Col Carthew and officers of the 21st M. N.I. and most of the European inhabitants of Singapore.