Lord Adam Gordon
Encyclopedia
Major
Lord Adam Granville Gordon, KCVO
, MBE
(1 March 1909–1984) was a British
royal courtier
.
Gordon was the second son of Lt.-Col. Douglas Gordon, who was later an equerry
to the Duke of Connaught
. He was educated at Eton
and joined the territorial division of the Royal Artillery
in 1927, rising to the rank of Major
and fought in World War II
(where he was mentioned in despatches and afterwards awarded the MBE). In 1937, his elder brother, Douglas, had inherited their great-uncle's title of Marquess of Huntly
and Adam and his younger brothers were granted the rank of a marquess's younger sons, enabling him to use the prefix Lord.
In 1953, Lord Adam succeeded Gp. Capt. Peter Townsend
as Comptroller and Assistant Private Secretary to The Queen Mother, a post he held until his retirement in 1974. He was knighted in 1960 and died in 1984.
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Lord Adam Granville Gordon, KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1 March 1909–1984) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
royal courtier
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
.
Gordon was the second son of Lt.-Col. Douglas Gordon, who was later an equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to the Duke of Connaught
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and joined the territorial division of the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1927, rising to the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(where he was mentioned in despatches and afterwards awarded the MBE). In 1937, his elder brother, Douglas, had inherited their great-uncle's title of Marquess of Huntly
Marquess of Huntly
Marquess of Huntly is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created on 17 April 1599 for George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly. It is the oldest existing marquessate in Scotland, and the second-oldest in the British Isles, only the English marquessate of Winchester being older...
and Adam and his younger brothers were granted the rank of a marquess's younger sons, enabling him to use the prefix Lord.
In 1953, Lord Adam succeeded Gp. Capt. Peter Townsend
Peter Townsend (Group Captain)
Group Captain Peter Wooldridge Townsend, CVO, DSO, DFC and Bar, RAF was Equerry to King George VI 1944–1952 and held the same position for Queen Elizabeth II 1952–1953.-RAF career:...
as Comptroller and Assistant Private Secretary to The Queen Mother, a post he held until his retirement in 1974. He was knighted in 1960 and died in 1984.