Robert Gordon (philanthropist)

Robert Gordon (philanthropist)

Robert Gordon (1668–1731), a 17th century merchant and philanthropist, was born in Aberdeen. He was the only son of Arthur Gordon who married Isabella Menzies of Balgownie. When Arthur Gordon, a well respected advocate in the Edinburgh courts, died in 1680, he left his twelve year old son the sum of 20,000 merks (about £1,100 then and considerably more in modern currency).

When Gordon reached the age of sixteen he became a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen. Among other benefits, this entitled him to follow a merchant's trade in the town. During the next few years he attended Marischal College, graduating in 1689. Soon afterwards, like many Scots at the time, he left Aberdeen, travelling far and wide around Northern Europe before finally settling in Gdańsk (also known as Danzig) where he established himself as a merchant trader. Over the next few decades he built a highly successful business and soon became wealthy. By 1692, he was rich enough to donate a large sum of money to his old college and by 1699, it appears that he was providing low interest loans to landowners in Aberdeenshire who needed working capital.

Little more is known about his time on the Baltic but by 1720 at the latest, he returned to Aberdeen a very wealthy man. However he had never married and had no heirs. Consequently he decided that his fortune would be used to found ‘a hospital for maintenance, aliment, entertainment and education of young boys’ and wrote his will to that effect. He started work on the project in 1730. He died shortly thereafter -- of overeating it is said -- but the project had started, funding was still there, owing to his foresightedness, and work continued on his dream.

Construction of the building was completed in 1743. However before it could be used for its intended purpose, it was taken over by the Duke of Cumberland to use as a barracks for the Hanoverian troops on his visit to Aberdeen in 1746 to put down the Jacobite rising, and so the hospital did not open until 1750. During the nineteenth century the hospital developed in two different directions. The first, aimed at secondary education led directly to the modern private school, Robert Gordon's College. The second, aimed at tertiary education, developed in combination with external technical institutes such as Gray's School of Science and Art, into an institution which achieved university status in the late twentieth century, the Robert Gordon University.

Persondata
NAME= Gordon, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=merchant, philanthropist
DATE OF BIRTH=1668
PLACE OF BIRTH=Aberdeen
DATE OF DEATH=1731
PLACE OF DEATH=Aberdeen


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Robert Gordon — may refer to:* Robert Gordon of Straloch, (1580–1661), Scottish cartographer * Robert Gordon (philanthropist) (1668–1731), Scottish trader and philanthropist, namesake of the college and university * Robert Jacob Gordon (1743–1795), Dutch… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Scots — is an incomplete list of notable people from Scotland. This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. Contents 1 Actors 2 Architects 3 Artists …   Wikipedia

  • List of Old Falconians — This is a list of some of the more prominent Old Falconians who are the alumni of North Sydney Boys High School. The Old Falconians Union is the alumni body of the school. The name Old Falconians is derived from Falcon Street which is the address …   Wikipedia

  • List of Tulane University people — A list of notable people affiliated with Tulane University, including graduates, former students, faculty, former faculty and major benefactors. Some especially notable individuals are also listed in the main University article. Individuals are… …   Wikipedia

  • Deaths in May 2010 — Contents 1 May 2010 1.1 31 1.2 30 1.3 29 …   Wikipedia

  • List of people on stamps of Australia — This is a list of people on the postage stamps of Australia. NOTOC compactTOC 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winners, Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, See also New South Wales 1850 1912 *Charles… …   Wikipedia

  • University of California, Berkeley — Seal of the University of California, Berkeley Motto Latin: Fiat Lux Motto in English Let There Be Light …   Wikipedia

  • Gray's School of Art — Infobox University name =Gray s School of Art native name = latin name = motto = established =1885 type =Art school endowment = staff = faculty = chancellor = principal = dean = rector = free label = Head of School free=Dr Stuart MacDonald… …   Wikipedia

  • Deaths in February 2010 — Contents 1 February 2010 1.1 28 1.2 27 1.3 26 …   Wikipedia

  • Birkbeck, University of London — Motto In nocte consilium Study by night [1] Established 1920 Constituent College of University of London 1907 Birkbeck College 1823 London Mechanics Institut …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”