Clan Gordon

Richard of Gordon held lands in Berwickshire in the Borders around 1200, and the family moved north after Sir Adam Gordon supported Robert the Bruce, receiving Strathbogie in Aberdeenshire, later renamed Huntly. From there the Gordons became the dominant power in the north-east, straddling Highland and Lowland Scotland; the chief earned the by-name “Cock o’ the North”.

Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly, and George, 4th Earl, killed at Corrichie in 1562, are among the principal figures, and the family was heavily involved in the risings of 1715 and 1745.

The Gordon tartan

The regimental link here is unusually well documented, which makes Gordon one of the better-evidenced clan tartans. The House of Gordon records that in 1793 Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon, commissioned setts from the Huntly manufacturer William Forsythe, and that the Duke chose a version of the Government (Black Watch) sett with a single yellow overcheck for himself and his regiment.

The Gordon Fencibles wore it first. The regiment raised in 1794, numbered 100th and renumbered 92nd in 1798, became the Gordon Highlanders and made the pattern famous; the National Army Museum records that the 4th Duke raised it at Brae Lochaber. The regiment amalgamated into The Highlanders in 1994. The Register lists Gordon in its Military category, with Gordon Red credited to Wilsons of Bannockburn and Gordon of Esselmont to the Sobieski Stuarts.

A note on honesty: the often-repeated story that the Duchess of Gordon recruited the regiment by offering a kiss with the King’s shilling is popular legend, not something the regimental museums record.

Clan facts

References

1. Gordon tartans — The Scottish Register of Tartans
2. Tartans — The House of Gordon
3. 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot — National Army Museum
4. Clan Insignia — The House of Gordon