Lt-Col. Robert Gordon
- Born: 1807, Leitcheston House, Rathven, Banffshire, Scotland
- Christened: 31 Mar 1807, Rathven, Banffshire, Scotland 1
- Married: 20 Feb 1847, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India 2
- Died: 28 Oct 1853, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India 3
- Buried: 28 Oct 1853, St. Mary's, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India 3
 Research Notes:
Fourth son of George, educated at a private school ; nominated for H.E.I.C.S., by Sir G. A. Robinson on recommendation of Gen. Alexander Ross.
1825, Cadet, H.E.I.C.S. (Madras). 1826, Aug. 20, arrived at Madras ; Aug. 23, Ens., 37th N.I. 1827, Nov. 24, sent to Wallajahbad, to take charge of young offs. and details of corps under orders to join their respective regiments. 1829, Oct. 9, Qr. Mr., Inter., and Paymr. (act.).1830, Jun. 8, granted furlough to Europe on s.c. ; Jun. 17, Lt. 1833, Jun. 7, arrived back at Madras ; Jul. 30, sent to Secunderabad. 1834, Jan. 8, member of a Committee in Fort St. George ; Jan. 20, member of a Court Martial at Madras; permitted to remain at the Presidency on s.c. till Jun. 30. 1836, May 17, instructed by the off. comdg. Hyderabad Subsidiary force to proceed to Jaulnah on Court Martial duty. 1837, Mar., passed in Hindustani at Secunderabad, awarded honorary reward, Mar. 11 ; Apr. 5, Adj. (act.); Apr. 21, D.A.A.G. (act.) ; Dec. 8, confirmed. 1838, Feb. 13, accompanied Comdr.- in-Chief on a tour of inspection and review through Centre, Mysore, and Southern divisions of the army. 1839, Feb. 25, A.A.G. (act.) ; Apr. 9, confirmed. 1840, May 5, accompanied Comdr.-in-Chief on similar tour; Aug. 4, services placed temporarily at the disposal of Comdr.-in-Chief for regimental duty; Sep, 24, Capt. ; Oct., Staff Off. (act.) to a detachment in Island of Sow Chow. 1841, Jan., served at capture of Chumpee, and assault of Canton in May as Adj. (Medal, shared 12 months donation Batta) ; employed in garrisoning Hong Kong and other captured ports on the coast of China, shared second donation of China Batta; Sep. 29, ordered by off. comdg. at Hong Kong to proceed with sick and convalescent, 37th N.I., to Madras; Dec. 3, granted twelve months' leave on s.c. to the Neilgherries and Western coast. 1843, Mar., D.A.G. (act.). 1845, Feb. 7, Bt. Maj., and D.A.G. on recommendation of Comdr.-in-Chief. 1847, May 4 - 1849, leave on s.c. to the Neilgherries and to sea. 1849, Apr. 7, accompanied the Comdr.-in-Chief on a tour of inspection and review through Mysore and Southern divisions, and provinces of Malabar and Cannara. 1851, Jun. 30, Maj.1852, Nov. 19, A.G. (act.). 1853, Oct. 25, A.G., Bt. Lt. Col., and member of Clothing Board; d. Oct. 28, at Madras (G.M., vol. 41, N.S., p. 217; E.I. Reg., 1826-54; I.O. Rec). The Comdr.-in-Chief, in announcing to the army his sudden and unexpected death, wrote : —
Although Lt. Col. Gordon only recently attained the responsible position of Adjutant General, yet his zealous services in the department for a period of 16 years during which he passed through its several grades with personal credit and public advantage, offered a reasonable prospect of long and useful labour in behalf of the army at large. Lt. Col. Gordon served with distinction in China with his regiment. The Lieutenant General, having assumed command of the army only the day before Lt. Col. Gordon's death, could possess but little personal knowledge of its late Adjutant General, but from documents which have been laid before His Excellency, he has no doubt that the army generally will sympathise in this expression of regret at so unlooked for a deprivation of Lt. Col. Gordon's services, while his friends and official associates cannot fail deeply to deplore the loss of an officer possessing many desirable qualities.
A monument was erected by his friends in St. Andrew's Church, Madras, "in testimony of their esteem, and as a memorial of the ability, integrity and usefulness of his public life, of his amiable disposition, his warm-hearted but unostentatious benevolence and of the Christian purity of his private life". The 37th N.I. was raised to the rank of a Grenadier reg. for its gallantry in China, in 1841. Under Gordon's direction was compiled An Abridgement of the General Orders issued at the Presidency of Fort St. George, from 1800-1840, Jun., indexed, Madras, 1840. 4
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Robert Gordon, Lieutt Colonel, Adjutant General of the Army, and Major 37th Grenadiers, died of cholera aged 46 years (burial record).
Marriage Information:
Robert married Adeline Louisa Letitia Collier, daughter of Henry Theodosius Browne Collier and Harriet Nicholas, on 20 Feb 1847 in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India. (Adeline Louisa Letitia Collier was born in 1826 in Paris, France, christened 31 Mar 1826 in Portsea, Hampshire, England and died on 28 Mar 1919 at 30 Porchester Sq., Hyde Park, Middlesex, England, aged 93 years.)
Marriage Notes:
Robert Gordon, age 39, bachelor, Depy Adjutant, General in the Army, resident of this District, son of George Gordon, and
Adeline Louisa Letitia Collier, age 21, spinster, resident of this District, daughter of Henry Collier
Married by Licence
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