Lewis Gordon (minister)

Lewis Gordon (24 June 1747 – 29 June 1824) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1815.

Life

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Gordon was born in Forres on 24 June 1747, the sixth son of William Gordon, merchant.[1] He trained as a minister at Marischal College, Aberdeen, graduating MA in 1765, was licensed by the Presbytery of Forres on 19 July 1768 and was ordained at Drainie on 28 September 1768.[1] He served as minister of the parish of Drainie near Lossiemouth on the north Scottish coast from 1768.[1][2] His parish included the (then) fishing village of Lossiemouth.[3] The church dated from 1666.[4]

He was elected Moderator in 1815 replacing David Ritchie and succeeded in 1816 by John Cook. At this time Gordon had been minister of Drainie for at least 45 years.[5] He was made a DD by King's College, Aberdeen on 17 May 1815, the day before his appointment as Moderator.[1]

He was translated to St Giles Church in Elgin on 5 September 1815,[6] remaining in post until his death at Burghead on 29 June 1824.[1]

Family

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Gordon married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Logan, Minister of Rafford, on 7 March 1771.[1] Their children were

  • Robert Maxwell (9 May 1772 - 15 Feb 1785, Kinneddar);
  • William (8 Oct 1773 - ?);
  • John (5 June 1775 - 7 Feb 1802, Calcutta);
  • Charles (28 Jan 1777 - 19 Apr 1804, during return from India on board the Harriet;
  • Jean (9 Aug 1778 - 11 Jun 1795);
  • Lewis (19 Oct 1780 - 5 Dec 1801, India), lieutenant HEICS;
  • Fenella (15 Jun 1782 - 15 Feb 1823);
  • Elizabeth (18 Jul 1783 - 4 Mar 1789);
  • Robina (12 Feb 1785 - ?); and
  • Robert (2 Apr 1786 - ?), captain Bombay Engineers.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, Vol VI, page 395.
  2. ^ The Edinburgh Almanack 1774
  3. ^ "GENUKI: Drainie, Morayshire". genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Statistical Accounts of Scotland". stataccscot.edina.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  5. ^ Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
  6. ^ Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, Vol VI, page 383.