William Gordon (New Hampshire politician)

William Gordon (April 12, 1763 – May 8, 1802) was an American politician and a United States Representative from the state of New Hampshire.

William Gordon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's At-large district
In office March 4, 1797 – June 12, 1800
Preceded by	Nicholas Gilman
Succeeded by	Samuel Tenney
New Hampshire Attorney General
In office June 12, 1800 – May 8, 1802 (death)
New Hampshire State Senator
In office 1794–1795
Personal details
Born	(1763-04-12)April 12, 1763 near Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
Died	May 8, 1802(1802-05-08) (aged 39) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting place	Amherst Town Hall Burying Ground Amherst, Hillsborough County New Hampshire, U.S.
Political party	Federalist
Spouse(s)	Mary Frances Atherton Gordon
Children	William Gordon
Alma mater	Harvard University
Profession	Lawyer Politician

Early life

Born near Boston in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Gordon graduated from Harvard College in 1779, studied law with Joshua Atherton, admitted to the bar in 1787 and commenced practice in Amherst, New Hampshire.[1]

Career

Gordon was appointed register of probate in 1793 and was a member of the New Hampshire Senate for the seventh district in 1794 and 1795. He was also solicitor of Hillsborough County from 1794 to 1801.

Elected as a Federalist to the Fifth and Sixth Congresses, Gordon served as a United States Representative of the state of New Hampshire from March 4, 1797, until June 12, 1800. He was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1798 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against William Blount, a United States Senator from Tennessee. He resigned to accept the office of New Hampshire Attorney General, which he held until his death.

Death

Gordon died in Boston on May 8, 1802 (age 39 years, 26 days). He was interred at Amherst Town Hall Burying Ground, Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

Family life

Gordon is one of many New Hampshire notables who descends from New Hampshire Pioneer Alexander Gordon. He married Mary Frances Atherton, daughter of Joshua Atherton [2],[3] and they had one son, William.

References

1. Secomb, Daniel Franklin. History of the Town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire: (first Known as Narragansett Township Number Three, and Subsequently as Southegan West). Evans, Sleeper & Woodbury, 1883 - Amherst (N.H.). p. 887. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
2. Gordon, William; Atherton, Joshua (1852). Memoir of the Hon. Joshua Atherton. Crosby, Nichols. p. 3.
3. "William Gordon". 1997-2014 Ancestry.com. Retrieved July 26, 2014.

External links

• United States Congress. "William Gordon (id: G000318)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Nicholas Gilman	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's at-large congressional district 1797-1800	Succeeded by Samuel Tenney