John Gordon (c.1655 – 24 August 1730) was a British politician and merchant. He was a Member of Parliament from 1708 to 1710.

Earlier life

A descendant of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly, Gordon was a factor at Campvere, the staple port for Scotland in Friesland, during the 1680s. He continued to do business in Rotterdam until 1702. He served as Lord Provost of Aberdeen from 1705 until 1708. A devout Presbyterian, he was the first to sign a loyal address from the council to Queen Anne upon the repulse of the Jacobite attempt at landing in the Firth of Forth.

Political career

Gordon was elected to Parliament in the 1708 general election for the new constituency of Aberdeen Burghs. He took little part in affairs of state, and served on a few Parliamentary committees of local importance. Gordon was dropped from Aberdeen Council in 1710 and discouraged from standing for re-election to Parliament, and he stood down at the 1710 general election. From 1716 to 1718, he again served as Lord Provost, and took part in efforts to purge episcopalian and Jacobite elements from the University of Aberdeen. He was made an honorary burgess upon his retirement.

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