Royalist. Born the second son of George Gordon, the 2nd Marquis of Huntly. He gained the title Viscount Aboyne from his father, when his father inherited his Marquisate (1636).
Gordon raised an army against the Covenanters when his father was treacherously taken prisoner by James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose. He intended to prevent the Covenanters from taking his family estates around Strathbogie and succeeded in recapturing Aberdeen. However, out-numbered he had to disband his force and flee to join his king, Charles I. With Charles' assistance, Gordon returned to Aberdeen and raised a force of 2000 to defend the city. However, he was repelled by William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal near Stonehaven. Gordon then fell back and made a stand against Montrose at the Bridge of Dee, but held out for only two days and Montrose was able to take Aberdeen once again. Gordon was lucky to escape but took refuge in England.
When Montrose left the Covenanters and joined the King's side, Gordon joined him, together with his elder brother Lord Lewis Gordon (later the 3rd Marquis of Huntly) and defeated the Covenanting Army (under Sir John Hurry) at Auldearn (1645). Gordon also fought with Montrose at Alford and Kilsyth (1645).
However the Royalist cause was in disarray and Charles I was captured and executed. Gordon escaped to the continent but died shortly afterwards in Paris.
