Background
Gordon was the son of William Gordon, a weaver in the Potterrow, Edinburgh, born on 20 May 1739. His father gave him his baptismal name from a clannish feeling for the Duke of Gordon.
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Duke Gordon
Edit ProfileEducation
He was educated at a school in the Cowgate, under Andrew Waddel, translator of George Buchanan"s paraphrase of the Psalms.
Career
On 13 March 1753 he entered the Greek class in Edinburgh University under Robert Hunter, and became a good scholar. During 1754 he was substitute teacher of the parish school of Tranent, Haddingtonshire, returning to the university on 4 March 1755. After completing his course he was tutor in the families of Captain John Dalrymple, and of Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck.
James Robertson, Doctor of Divinity, professor of oriental languages, on being made university librarian (12 January 1763), appointed Gordon his assistant.
This office he retained under Andrew Dalzel, Robertson"s successor. His salary till 1783 was £15, and never exceeded £35.
He supported himself mainly by tuition. According to his biographer, he was a patient, sensitive scholar, not without sarcastic humour.
He detected three of the six errors in the ‘immaculate’ edition of the Latin poet Horace of 1744 (see Robert Foulis).
On his retirement from duty he received (12 April 1800) the degree of Master of Arts He left £500 to the Edinburgh Infirmary, and the reversion of house property of nearly the same value to the poor of Saint Cuthbert"son
