Historic & Famous Gordon’s
Below is a list of Famous Gordon’s from the past and present. Stay tuned for more!
A.A. Milne
Author of Winnie the Pooh
The real toys now live at the New York City Library, much to the dismay of the Brits and the joy of the Americans! Christopher Robin loved going to the zoo and his favorite animal there was a bear named Winnie. He named his stuffed bear Winnie for the bear at the zoo and Pooh for his favorite swan! ‘The’ was put in, because according to Christopher Robin, Winnie was a girl’s name and HIS bear was a male bear and everybody knows ‘the’ makes it a boy!
Read more about A.A. Milne and Christopher Robin and the Pooh toys!
Edward Goodrich Acheson
patented “Carborundum”
In 1893 Edward Goodrich Acheson patented a method for making an industrial abrasive that he called “Carborundum” or silicon carbide. It is one of 22 patents named by The United States Patent Office as most responsible for the Industrial age. According to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, “without carborundum, the mass production manufacturing of precision-ground, interchangeable metal parts would be practically impossible”. He discovered that when carborundum was heated to a high temperature it produced an almost pure and perfected form of graphite that could be used as a lubricant. During his lifetime, Edward was granted 70 patents throughout his lifetime for industrial abrasives, several graphite products, processes for the reduction of oxides, and refractories. His family originated in Forfar, Scotland.
General Patrick Gordon
Czar Peter the Great of Russia owed his throne to General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries in Aberdeenshire, who was part of the Haddo House branch of the family. As a younger son Czar set out as a soldier of fortune and hired himself out to the Swedish, Polish and finally the Russian armies. In Russia he rose to the highest ranks. Furthermore, he organized the army in the European and in particular the Scottish fashion following in the Gordon tradition! Peter’s sister Sophia tried to have him killed in 1689 and take over Russia. It was Patrick Gordon who held Moscow for Peter, putting down the coupe, placing him firmly in control and kept him there! When he died, it was Peter himself who held him and closed his eyes!
James Matthew Barrie
Author of Peter Pan
Jamie was one of ten children born to weaver David Barrie and Margaret Ogilvie Barrie. He was born on May 9, 1860, in Kirriemuir, Forfarshire, a town he made famous as Thrums. He really did have a big St. Bernard dog named Porthos, who consequently was the inspiration for Nana! Similarly, his inspiration for Peter Pan and the Lost Boys were the Llewellyn-Davies boys. George, Jack, Peter, Michael and Nicholas (Nico) called him Uncle Jim. Therefore, on the death of their mother they became his wards.
Jeff Gordon
NASCAR driver
Jeff Gordon is the 3rd All-time most winning driver in NASCAR. He is also the first 3-time recipient of the NASCAR Illustrated Person of the Year Award. As well as a known philanthropist and has done much to help others. In 1999 he established the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation to help support children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. Furthermore, in 2006 he opened the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital at the NorthEast Medical Center. He joined other athletes in 2007 to form Athletes for Hope, which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions others to volunteer and support the community.
Similarly, in 2011 he joined AARP through the Drive to End Hunger program. It donates meals to hunger relief organizations near NASCAR tracks, along with reducing hunger among senior citizens. Even more, Jeff is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, which helps global leaders find solutions to ending the world’s pressing problems. Furthermore, in 2009 Jeff received the Silver Buffalo Award, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award, for his work as a Scout Recruiter and humanitarian work. In 2012 he was the first NASCAR driver to be awarded the Heisman Humanitarian Award for his work in children’s causes. One of several famous Gordon’s for people to look up to!
See here for Jeff Gordon’s official website.
Judy Garland
actress
“She was quick to tell the audience she felt at home in Scotland and that her Grandfather’s people were called Milne originally from Aberdeen.”
Read more here.
Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low
Founder of the Girl Scouts
She was born in Georgia, attended school in Virginia and New York and married a Scot. Juliette lived in London and Scotland for many years and was good friends with Rudyard Kipling who wrote The Jungle Book! She was an accomplished artist and sculptress. Most noteworthy, she was most proud of having founded the Girl Scouts of America. So much so that she was buried in her Girl Scout Uniform! One of many Famous Gordon’s indeed!
Read more about her here!
John Muir
first modern day conservationist
Born in Scotland his family came to America and originally settled in Wisconsin. He later moved to California. After temporarily losing his eyesight in a factory accident, John decided to spend his life looking for the beauty in life. He founded the Sierra Club and his efforts in conservation inspired President Teddy Roosevelt to form our first National Park at Yosemite! John has been called many things, including the Father of Our National Parks. However, he described himself as, “a poetico-trampo-geologist botanist and ornithologist-naturalist etc. etc.”!!!! Many members of his family are members of the House of Gordon USA carrying on his family tradition as Gordon clansmen! One of several Famous Gordon’s indeed!
Read more about him at the National Parks Service John Muir National Historic Site!
Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron)
poet and politician
Such an amazing man…poet, politician, leading figure in the Romantic movement. Truly must have been a fascinating individual. He was known by his peers as ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’. Lord Byron’s lifestyle was very much akin to that of the modern- day rock star… BYDAND!
Richard ‘Dick’ F. Gordon Jr.
retired Navy Captain and Astronaut
He received his naval naviator wings in 1953, and served in the dangerous position of flight test pilot until 1960. In 1961 Richard won the Bendix Trophy Race from Los Angeles to New York. Most noteworthy he set a new speed record of 869.74 miles per hour and a transcontinental record of 2 hours 47 minutes.
Furthermore, in 1963 he was chosen by NASA to join the astronaut program. He piloted the three-day Gemini 11 mission. He launched Sept. 12, 1966 alongside Commander Charles Conrad, Jr. During this mission he docked with an Agena satellite. Gordon completed the first tethered station-keeping exercise (space walk), but he had to cut it short after 44 minutes due to difficulty maintaining his position in weightlessness without handholds or foot restraints. A valuable lesson for later space walkers. This mission used the Agena engine to rocket to a then-record altitude of 850 miles, and completed the first fully automatic controlled re-entry!
Gordon was back in space on Nov. 14, 1969, on the Apollo 12 moon mission along with Conrad & Alan Bean. While Gordon circled 60 miles above the moon obtaining mapping photographs of future landing sites. He also performed the final docking sequences between the Yankee Clipper command module and the lunar module, Intrepid. In 1971, Gordon became chief of advanced programs for the Astronaut Office. He worked on the design and testing of the Space Shuttle and development equipment. Finally, a year later he retired from NASA and the Navy to become executive vice president of the New Orleans Saints professional football team. One of many Famous Gordon’s to inspire us all!
Check out his website here!
Robin McLaurin Williams
actor and comedian
July 21, 1951- August 11, 2014
Was the son of Laura McLaurin Berry. He was fiercely proud of his family and his Clan.